Part 4 - Lacoste x
Passionate Parisian, Jean René Lacoste - A sophisticated/innovative businessman/tennis player, who went on to elegantly oppose and change the face of tradition for many.
He was perfectly nicknamed "The Crocodile" for how he supremely handled players out on the court, especially at the French Open, The Davis Cup and Wimbledon et al, with stellar performances, that captured audiences worldwide, with absolute aplomb.
When he initially announced himself on the world stage, he would stylishly walk out, adorned with a white jacket.
In 1923, he sagely encouraged his friend and designer, Robert George to sew a crocodile logo onto these jackets, thus beginning a legendary/ cultural revolution, not only in the tennis firmament but also in the fashion firmanent, too.
In today's environment, it takes 1,600 stitches to sew and perfect the Lacoste Crocodile emblem onto each garment and with colours for every season, its visionary heritage is everlasting.
Alongside a French textile manufacturer, nicknamed "The Industrial Philanthropist", André Gillier, (of Troyes; knitwear capital) La Chemise Lacoste was founded in 1933.
They fatefully met each other when André wanted to purchase a car from René's father, Jean Jules.
André and René's hungry collaboration would go on to be a sensational hit, just like René's tenacious tennis performances, as together, they created the first and iconic Piqué cotton polo, with Troyes being the perfect production zone.
Sadly, André passed away, not long after they established themselves, in 1935.
Being humble/presentably sharp and smart, whilst having ardour/remaining proper, are illuminating/intrinsic values of the French brand, vitally passed down from inventor René (machine/metal racquets), his golf champion wife Simone and their family, for inspired generations to come.
The unifying longevity of the timeless/tribal Lacoste clothing/aftershave/perfume lines et al is a huge testament to the music, football, tennis, golf, fashion et al worlds.
The cool label has continued to be massively popular within the Casual scene for every reason, long after René's sad death in 1996.
Vive Le Crocodile! x