LACOSTE: A Legacy in Sportswear

LACOSTE

Episode 2: History of the Crocodile

Its History as Sportswear

LACOSTEWe previously wrote about how LACOSTE invented the polo shirt and continues to produce high-quality products. Here, we will look back at the reasons behind the development of the "L1212," along with the brand's history from its founding. The design of the polo shirt worn by modern tennis players is unchanged from the original "L1212" when it was first created.—This fact alone speaks to the perfection of the "L1212."

Text by KASE Tomoshige (OPENERS)Photographs by LACOSTE

France's Greatest Tennis Player

It can be said that tennis wear underwent a significant transformation before and after LACOSTE. Simply put, before LACOSTE, it was a "dress shirt," and after LACOSTE, it became the "polo shirt."

The polo shirt invented by LACOSTE (the "L1212") has had a significant impact on the market, not only at its sensational launch in 1933 but also today, as both sportswear and a fashion item. To tell the history of this groundbreaking sportswear, we should first write about its creator, René Lacoste himself.

René Lacoste was born in Paris, France, in 1904. His father, Jean, had been involved in sports from a young age and succeeded as a wealthy businessman (an interesting parallel to René's later life). At 14, René picked up a racket and discovered his passion for tennis. He was told by his father, "If you play tennis, you must become the world champion within five years." True to his word, he was selected for the French Davis Cup team in 1923 and won the Wimbledon Championships in 1925, becoming the world champion for the first time.

In conclusion, René Lacoste was one of the greatest players in French professional tennis history. During his brief career from 1924 to 1929, he won the French Championships three times, Wimbledon twice, and the U.S. Championships twice. These achievements are outstanding even in the history of professional tennis to this day.

Incidentally, Lacoste's signature "crocodile" motif originates from an anecdote from René's playing days. In 1925, René was scheduled to play against an Australian player named Anderson in Boston, USA. He saw a crocodile-skin suitcase in a local luggage store and jokingly said to Pierre Gillou, the captain of the French team, "If I win against Anderson, will you buy me this suitcase?"

Ultimately, Anderson won the match. However, a local Boston journalist named George Carenns, who had heard about this story, reported, "Young René Lacoste may not have gotten the crocodile-skin suitcase, but his match was as tenacious as a crocodile." This is how René's nickname, "the Crocodile," was born and became widely known.

In 1930, due to health reasons, a desire to spend more time with his family, and a wish to focus on managing his business, René Lacoste decided to retire from professional play. This was likely a major event in the French tennis world at the time, but if it led to the creation of the "polo shirt," then history truly unfolds in mysterious ways.

The Birth of the "L1212"

"I often caught a cold during matches, and one day I realized it was because I was playing in a baggy shirt. At the time, I was wearing a regular white dress shirt with buttons on the placket and cuffs. I needed a shirt that was more comfortable and allowed for greater freedom of movement. So, I looked at the soft, short-sleeved, collarless shirts worn by polo players. I immediately asked a shirtmaker to add a collar to this 'polo shirt.'"

The above is a quote from René in a 1970 newspaper interview. This "collared polo shirt," which René himself wore on the tennis court in America in 1927, is the origin of the "L1212" and the ancestor of all polo shirts that exist today. However, the French Tennis Federation at the time reportedly expressed reservations about the shirt's "too tight fit"... Nevertheless, this comfortable, sweat-absorbent knit shirt quickly became the talk of the players.

Then, in 1933, after retiring from his playing career, René founded "La Chemise Lacoste" in Troyes, a city in northern France, together with André Gillier, the owner of a knit fabric factory. The "polo shirt" he had conceived and produced during his playing days was finally to be developed as a business. Incidentally, René...—...perhaps it was the businessman's blood of his father, Jean...—...was an active idea man, realizing numerous inventions in tennis both during and after his playing career. He was responsible for creating countless "new products," such as the practice ball machine and the development of steel rackets.

The original polo shirt, the "L1212," released in this manner, was highly regarded not only in the tennis world but also as sportswear in other sports. In this context, it is essential to mention his closest associate, his wife.

Simone Thion de la Chaume, who would later become René's wife, was a golfer. After becoming the champion at the 1927 World Championship in Great Britain, she went on to win the French Championship title 13 times. Like René, she was a great athlete, perhaps even greater.

Starting as tennis wear, LACOSTE became a globally recognized brand in various fields such as golf and yachting. And since its creation in 1933, the "L1212" has continued to be highly acclaimed by numerous athletes and fashion enthusiasts to this day.

The technology LACOSTE has cultivated and its respect for sports are undoubtedly the driving force behind its creation of superior products. Its history as sportswear, not merely a fashion item, is the backbone of the "L1212" and the identity that supports its functionality, trusted by customers worldwide.

New Series, Arriving One After Another!

“FLAGS”
In 2012, the year of the London Olympics, a series inspired by various national flags was introduced. It featured two types: one with the flag motif on the body, and another with a plain white body where the colors and patterns of the flag were expressed through the crocodile logo.

“MARINE”
This series, featuring vivid striped patterns and bold color blocking, is perfect for enjoying an adult marine style. It can be used as an accent for your outfits from early summer through the summer season.

“AQUARLLE”
This is an Asia-exclusive capsule collection inspired by tie-dye. The soft, subtle colors and patterns, reminiscent of watercolor paintings and stripes, create a unique and striking touch.

LACOSTE Official Online Store
http://shop.lacoste.jp/

FABRICA
Tel. 03-6894-0318
http://www.lacoste.co.jp