What brands originated the Ralph Lauren empire?

[Brienneoftarth]

As every one knows Ralph Lauren created his fashion empire by borrowing heavily from and romanticizing east coast/english upper class/wasp/country club culture & fashion. I'm interested in learning about some of the brands that are the originators of this look. He does an amazing job of creating the illusion that Polo and his other brands are the embodiment of a certain lifestyle and culture but its just that, an illusion created by ad campaigns, what brands are what the real wealth of the east coast wore? Who made the original polo style golf shirt? or were the outfitters of that look back in the day? Do they even exist or did people just shop at custom shops with no brand? I would ask the same question about brooks brothers as well. I'm interested in this because I'm becoming more and more concerned with seeking out authentic products or reliable/detailed non-branded reproductions. ie: buy a wrangler/nudie western shirt instead of a polo one.

[minya]

You mean what were the original east coast trad/prep brands?

If so: J. Press, Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, etc.

[denimdestroyedmylife]

Who made the original polo style golf shirt? or were the outfitters of that look back in the day?

lacoste

........

here's is a little something from gibson's pattern recognition in regards to mimesis in hilfiger:

My God, don't they know? This stuff is simulacra of simulacra.

A diluted tincture of Ralph Lauren, who had himself diluted the

glory days of Brooks Brothers, who themselves had stepped on the

product of Jermyn Street and Savile Row, flavoring their ready-

to-wear with liberal lashings of polo knit and regimental

stripes. But Tommy surely is the null point, the black hole.

There must be some Tommy Hilfiger event horizon, beyond which it

is impossible to be more derivite, more removed from the source,

more devoid of soul. Or so she hopes, and doesn't know, but

suspects in her heart that this in fact what accounts for his

long ubiquity.

[Brienneoftarth]

yeah i read that. I must say that since reading that book, cayce has rubbed off on me and I'm very picky about brands and images etc. I'm guessing saville row and jermyn street would just have bespoke or no-name clothing purveyors that rich people shopped at. So lacoste is the original polo shirt? too bad it fits me horribly, I have a very long torso.