You learn something new everyday.

René Lacoste was a tennis superstar of the 1920s, a part of the infamous Four Musketeers who in 1927 succeeded in capturing the Davis Cup from the Americans. His impressive trophy collection included wins at Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the French Open. In 1925 in Boston, Lacoste made a wager with his team captain that if he won the match he would buy him an alligator suitcase. Unfortunately, for Lacoste, the alligator accessory had to wait but out of his loss came the nickname that would make him a household icon across the globe. Lacoste began sporting a small-embroidered crocodile, designed by his good friend Robert George, on his tennis blazers and people on the court quickly took notice. In 1927, Lacoste began manufacturing the perfect tennis shirt designed to beat the heat of the American summers.
The original polo changed men’s sportswear forever, replacing the heavy long-sleeved starch classic shirt. The first Lacoste polo, known as 12.12, was white with a ribbed collar and short sleeves made of a light knitted fabric known as jersey petit pique allowing for greater movement on the court. This also marked the first time a logo was used as an essential part of the design element for a brand.
Lacoste didn’t only revolutionize the world of sportswear but also completely modernized the game itself. In the 1920s he invented the ball machine, but perhaps his greatest creation was the first steel tennis racquet that was then distributed in the United States by Wilson and would soon after become uniform world wide.
Sportswear will forever thank Monsieur Crocodile.