Ralph Lauren says he ‘hates fashion’ and never thought of himself as a designer

‘It was more about timeless things I liked,’ the American designer says

(Getty Images)

Ralph Lauren has made an unlikely confession by stating that he “hates” fashion.

Speaking about his upcoming HBO documentary, Very Ralph, which charts the legacy of the American designer’s 50-year-old eponymous brand, he explained that his view of fashion is more about concepts than clothes.

“I hate fashion,” Lauren told The Telegraph. “I never thought of myself as a fashion designer. It was more about timeless things I liked – and values.”

The documentary explores Lauren’s beginnings in the industry and highlights some of his most famous creations for people such as Hillary Clinton, Anna Wintour and Audrey Hepburn, who is featured in an early scene.

“Ralph conjures up all the things I most care about,” the iconic film star says while wearing a black Ralph Lauren tuxedo at an event celebrating Lauren’s career in 1992.

When asked to expand on the things she cares about, Hepburn lists objects and moods as opposed to fashion items, including “vegetable gardens, fireplaces and misty mornings.”

Lauren came to the fore of American fashion in the early 1970s, when he was famed for his preppy sportswear and tailoring. Now, his namesake brand comprises one of the largest apparel empires, encompassing several labels including Polo Ralph Lauren and Ralph Lauren Purple Label.

The brand has also acquired a cult celebrity following having worked with people like actor Jessica Chastain and model Taylor Hill on various campaigns.

Lauren’s reputation is such that he even appeared in Friends as himself – the character Rachel Green worked at Ralph Lauren for several seasons of the American sitcom.

Elsewhere in the interview, the 80-year-old fashion designer, whose net worth is estimated at $6bn (£4.7bn) speaks about being rejected in his early career.

After a stint at Brooks Brothers, Lauren applied for a role at a large retailer that he thinks might’ve been Saks 5th Avenue. Despite offering to work for free to prove himself, the company turned him down.

“I don’t know what happened to that person who interviewed me,” Lauren told the publication of the rejection. “But I’m still here”.