Ralph Lauren has been awarded the title of Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. He becomes the very first American fashion designer to be conferred with knighthood or damehood amongst other Americans including: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, former New York City Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudolph Giuliani, Angelina Jolie, Steven Spielberg, Bill and Melinda Gates, and ex-Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts. The 79-year old New Yorker born reputable designer who recently celebrated his 50 years in the fashion industry was recognized for his exceptional input into fashion, trade, and philanthropy.
A statement released by the Ralph Lauren Company read “All British honors are awarded on merit, and conferred by HM The Queen on the advice of the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary,” the Ralph Lauren company explains in a statement. “The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire was founded in 1917 and Mr. Lauren may forthwith put ‘KBE’ after his name if he wishes.” This explains that the Knighthood is an award to exceptional figures towards their achievements and service to the nation. The awardees are not citizens of the United kingdom or the Commonwealth realms.
Ralph Lauren who is a self-made designer after studying business in Braunch college and single-handedly grew his fashion house to a global brand is also the recipient of other awards like: New York key to the city by Mayor Micheal Bloomberg, James Smithson Bicentennial Medal, French Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur due to his contribution to design and business, CFDA’s Womenswear and Menswear designer if the year, retailer of the year and the lifetime achievement award. He is a well known and appreciated philanthropist, he would be presented with the knighthood insignia by one of the Queen’s men at a ceremony in 2019.
