Ralph Lifshitz was born in 1939 to Jewish working class immigrants in the Bronx. He was the youngest of 4 children, and his only clothes to wear were his brothers’ hand me downs. His father was a house painter and amateur artist, ingraining the importance of aesthetics in Ralph’s mind. As a boy he’d escape to the cinema, taking in how well-dressed the actors and actresses were. At age 16 Ralph and his brother changed their last name, due to much teasing about it.
In 1967, Ralph Lauren called up his childhood friend Warren Holstein to tell him he was starting his own business. He asked if the name should be ‘Players’ or ‘Polo.’ Holstein gave him advice that he noted and ignored; Polo Ralph Lauren was born.
Marketed toward upper-class white folk, the brand took to a new market in the 80’s; young black teens who needed money. They started stealing things like jewellery to sell, then it went to name brand clothes, and then became a competition. It wasn’t just about boosting to get money, it was about who could get the craziest gear. The culture didn’t start with Polo. It was happening with brands like Kangol and shoes like Gazelles. They would steal everything, but when all other brands went out of fashion, Ralph Lauren was the one that stuck.
Prior to 88, the boosting crews in Brooklyn were The Ralphies Kids from St John’s and Utica, and the United Shoplifting Association from Brownsville. Rack Lo lived in both areas and brought both crews together. People started calling them Polo Posse and they despised the name. As a matter of fate, on one occasion a girl called them low life’s for always stealing something. They realised they always called the brand ‘Lo’ and ran with the name.
Lo Life culture became dangerous. It became a religion. You needed Lo branded everything. People would get killed for Lo. Sometimes a group of 20 would rob one guy for Lo. It was incredibly valuable.
You would think all this stealing would cause the brand to lose money, but the Lo Life’s were introducing the brand to a whole new audience. They were making the brand cool in the hood.
R.I.P. Fats Capone, Boostin Billy, Pumpkin, & Marco Polo
#081173
🚨 CASTING CALL NYC - attention models -
FOR @lolifebrand
Meet the Desinger @rackloracklo
Casting date June 2nd
Show date July 12th
Location downtown Brooklyn at @happymunkey_ dispensary 21+
Dm @dannyboards for more info.
We are selecting 25 models
Rack-Lo PoLo Godfather in PARIS 🇫🇷 FRANCE with my brother @avrock75 LO GOOSE ON THE EIFFEL TOWER ✈️💯 Shout out to my entire Paris Family @parispoloclub SaLLute 🔥🔥🔥 #rackloarchives #racklo #lolife #eiffeltower🗼#paris
Ralph Lauren Everything, Click Link In Bio for Tickets. SAVE THE DATE (Sunday) July 12th (3:00 PM). This is a commemoration FUND RAISER show for my wife SHEENA ❤️❤️🙏🕊🌹. Honoring her styles, her legacy and her love for fashion and beauty. Models will be styled in various RL LINES along with the innovative and creative designs of @ferrerforeal06 and Rack-Lo. Join us for this special occasion. I will also explore the Rack-Lo and Sheena love story and how we became a power couple, power family and fashion legends in NYC and abroad. In addition, there will also be music, filming, photography, food and pop up shop. JOIN US. Hope to see you all there. Much Love! SaLLute 💯 #racklo #rackloarchives #shileenabillipsforever #sheenaday #fashionshow
Happy Heavenly "Mothers Day" my love. 😍😘❤️❤️❤️ Your love and care was so different and spectacular. Your approach to motherhood was so gentle and I will always praise you for your glorious gift. You showed our son how to be a full person and he benefitted greatly from your tutelage and leadership. "There is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. Your influence was beyond calculation. You took on the responsibility as an act of infinite optimism. And I want to say thank you for being the best example of being a Mother. You showed me that in life there's no role more essential than being a mom. It's love in the purest form. Your image was the first stamp on our child's mind. It was your caress that first awakened a sense of security, your kiss, your sympathy and tenderness was his first sign that there was love in the world. You remain to be my hero for taking on such a noble task. Then you became a proud Grandmother and you illustrated even more affection. You remained a warrior through it all and I am blessed to have had you in my life. We are still together forever and the love I have for you will never fade. I will assure that our grandson develops and have your lovely spirit in his heart baby. THANK YOU!! Baby, you are the greatest. SHEENA, you are in my thoughts, you are in my dreams, your love and spirit surrounds me. I'm still holding on fulfilling our desires and all that you wanted. ❤️ 😍 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 🙏🙏 Our love is still standing the test of time. 🕊🕊🕊🕊❤️❤️❤️ #racklo #mywife #shileenabillipsforever #rackloarchives #restinpeace
In The History Books 🔥🔥🔥💪💪💯 Rack-Lo PoLo Godfather (The Published Author). A close intense detailed look of how my journey became legendary and how a international culture was built on survival, hip-hop, grabbing the American Dream, love and loyalty, innovation, cultural heritage, devotion to fashion and style, self belief, inspiration, self determination, Rack-Lo and Sheena companionship and so much more. #racklo #lolifes #lolife #publishedauthor #hiphop
BE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WITH THIS CLASSIC ITEM. 🔥🔥💯 The Snow Beach "Collegiate Varsity" Leather Jacket. All Sizes - Limited Edition. DM to pre order. Shipping Worldwide 🌍 #racklo #rackloarchives #lolife #lolifes Rack-Lo and @ferrerforeal06@meedee_y
Day of graduation. Baby you are the greatest ❤️. You made your dreams come true. I remember the first time you shared with me that you were going to college. I was so ecstatic and happy for you. You led the way to acquire higher education because you knew that it would pay off as well as uplift the community. You prepared yourself for the experience and journey in a major way. And as a result of you enrolling into college, inspired me to do the same. I wanted to be apart of everything that you were involved in. I wanted to be with you every step of the way in our journey. I never wanted to be away from you. We gave eachother strength 💪. I was so fortunate to have you by my side and I wanted to value every moment of it. The day that you earned your Bachelor's degree was another milestone that you envisioned and conquered. You will then pay it forward by empowering others in the community in the form of empowerment. You put your education to use, by fostering positive change in the lives of others. You endured so much and I am extremely proud of you and your accomplishments. You displayed that strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. And your desires and motivation was infectious on others inspiring them to rise to the occasion and to be accounted for. I am still fighting the pain of being without you and I don't think the pain will ever go away. YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING BABY. YOU GAVE ME THE KISS OF LIFE. SHEENA, you are in my thoughts, you are in my dreams, your love and spirit surrounds me. I'm still holding on fulfilling our desires and all that you wanted. ❤️ 😍 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ 🙏🙏 Our love is still standing the test of time. 🕊🕊🕊🕊❤️❤️❤️ #racklo #mywife #shileenabillipsforever #rackloarchives #restinpeace
A Visionary and Cultural Engineer: BUILT A MULTICULTURAL TIMELESS CULTURE and BRAND that spans the globe est in Hip Hop's Golden Era 1988 respectfully. 🌎 We are now (38) years deep and still going. SaLLute 💯 In this photo we were live at EMPIRE SKATING RINK. #rackloarchives #racklo #lolife #lolifes #hiphop
RL Uni-Ver-Sity🔥🔥🔥🔥💯 Rack-Lo PoLo Godfather. The Story begins in 1985 when wearing Polo came with having a certified reputation. SaLLute! #rackloarchives #racklo #lolife #lolifes #1988
BUCKINGHAM PALACE 🇬🇧 Anniversary Cross Flags crew in London. We came through put on and showed out. IT WAS EPIC 💪💪🔥🔥🔥💯 The Queen would have been proud. SaLLute!! Seeing the Kings Guards and the immaculate grounds and architecture was a sight to see. Legendary and Historical moments added to the Lo Culture Legacy. It's in the history books now. Much Love to everyone who joined us 💯 #racklo #rackloarchives #lolife #buckinghampalace #london
