 |
Rene Lacoste entered the legend of tennis when he
and his team-mates “The Musketeers”, stole the Davis Cup away from the
Americans for the first time, in 1927. Not forgetting his 3 French Open
victories, his two victories in Great Britain, and his two U.S. Open
titles at Forest Hills.
Rene Lacoste was born in France on July
2nd 1904 and died on October 12th 1996. The true story of the
“Alligator” begins in 1927. René Lacoste liked to recount how his
nickname became an emblem recognized throughout the world.
I was
nicknamed “the Alligator” by the American press, after I made a bet
with Captain of the French Davis Cup Team concerning a suitcase made
from alligator skin. He promised to buy it for me if I won a very
important match for out team. The public must have been fond of this
nickname which conveyed the tenacity I displayed on the tennis courts,
never letting go of my prey!”
So my friend Robert George drew an alligator which I then had embroidered on the blazer I wore on the courts.”
An
attentive spectator at René Lacoste’s Davis Cup matches was the winner
of the British Women’s golf title, Mademoiselle Simone Thion de la
Chaume, who soon became his wife and constant support.
In 1933
Rene Lacoste and André Gillier, the owner and President of the largest
French knitwear manufacturing firm of that time, set up a company to
manufacture the logo-embroidered shirt. The champion had designed this
for his own use on the tennis court, as well as a number of other
shirts for tennis, golf, and sailing – as can be seen in the first
catalogue, produced in 1933.
To the best of our knowledge, this
was the first time that a brand name appeared on the outside of an
article of clothing – and idea which has since become extremely
successful.
This shirt revolutionized men’s sportswear and
replaced the woven fabric, long – sleeved, starched classic shirts. The
first Lacoste shirt was white, slightly shorter than its counterparts,
had a ribbed collar, short sleeves with ribbed brands and was made of a
light knitted fabric called “Jersey petit pique”. It continues to offer
the same quality, comfort and solidity on which it built its name and
which constitute its uniqueness. |
Flat Panel TVs
Shop by Brand
Your cart
Your Quotes
Recently Viewed
Help
Yahoo RSS
