Ralph Lauren Steps Down As CEO From His Label

Ralph Lauren Steps Down From Label

GettyImages-488741326 (1)

by Emma Spedding |
Published on

Ralph Lauren, 75, has announced today that he is stepping down from his label after almost 50 years.

He will be replaced by the president of Gap's chain Old Navy, Stefan Larsson, who will be chief executive. Ralph will stay on as chief designer and chairman - "I am still here and am not leaving he said." We think this means one of our favourite moments of New York Fashion Week will still happen - when Ralph and his blue blazer takes his final bow at Ralph Lauren.

Sales in Ralph Lauren have dipped by 44% in the past year. The designer said of his replacement: "He understands what dreams are. In this business, it's about dreams because you are dreaming ahead and you're about progress and change and newness."

Ralph Lauren in his office in 1977 [Getty]
Ralph Lauren in his office in 1977 [Getty]

Ralph Lauren founded his label in 1968, with his preppy polos, cable knits and colourful ties quickly becoming Ivy League staples. His iconic polo shirt was first released in 1972.

Ralph said in an interview with US Vogue about how he started his label: "I started with nothing. And my father was an artist—he painted houses when he couldn’t get a job as an artist. I was lucky. I never went to fashion school. I had an innate thing I never even knew I had. And it’s about my own taste and my own ideas. Forty-seven years ago, someone lent me $50,000 to make ties, and they said, “Let’s do more things,” and it turned into something great."

Gallery

Ralph Lauren

rexfeatures_1838776a1 of 10

rexfeatures_1838776a

Model on the Ralph Lauren catwalk in 1986 [Rex]

rexfeatures_1812054a2 of 10

rexfeatures_1812054a

Model at Ralph Lauren show in 1993 [Rex]

rexfeatures_1808884a3 of 10

rexfeatures_1808884a

Model on the Ralph Lauren catwalk in 1996 [Rex]

rexfeatures_1808854a4 of 10

rexfeatures_1808854a

Model on the Ralph Lauren catwalk in 1996 [Rex]

rexfeatures_1807412a5 of 10

rexfeatures_1807412a

Model on the Ralph Lauren catwalk in 1994 [Rex]

rexfeatures_1065904a6 of 10

rexfeatures_1065904a

Model on the Ralph Lauren catwalk in 2000 [Rex]

rexfeatures_434295t7 of 10

rexfeatures_434295t

[Rex]

rexfeatures_434295s8 of 10

rexfeatures_434295s

Models on the Ralph Lauren catwalk in 2003 [Rex]

rexfeatures_265843a9 of 10

rexfeatures_265843a

[Rex]

GettyImages-77612910 of 10

GettyImages-776129

[Getty]

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us