| Nowadays, it's almost impossible to find someone who | | | | woven material called jersey petit pique for maximum |
| has not heard of the Lacoste name brand or seen a | | | | ventilation. Before the production of these new shirts, |
| Lacoste polo shirt before. Founded in 1933 by a French | | | | tennis players had traditionally worn long-sleeved |
| tennis player named René Lacoste, the brand | | | | woven shirts, so the new designs were practically |
| has grown to become unarguably one of the most | | | | unheard of. Another interesting side note is that |
| famous and well-known in the world. | | | | contrary to popular fashion statement at the time, |
| The origin of the now-famous Lacoste logo is an | | | | Lacoste decided to attach the logo on the outside of |
| interesting one. Story has it that René Lacoste | | | | the shirt, something which had rarely been seen |
| picked up the nickname "the Alligator" when rumors | | | | before. Thus, the legacy of the Lacoste polo shirt |
| began floating around that he had made a bet with the | | | | began, and since then, it's been the norm to see |
| captain of the French Davis Cup Team regarding an | | | | clothing with the logo embroidered on the outside. |
| alligator skin suitcase. The official company statement | | | | From the 1930's to roughly the 1950's the brand grew |
| from the website is that the captain of the team | | | | in popularity, and in the early 1950's, Lacoste clothing |
| promised him an alligator skin suitcase if he won a | | | | began being imported to the United States where it |
| very important match for the team. He won the match | | | | was flaunted as a clothing line designed for the upper |
| and was given the nickname by the American press | | | | class. As time passed, the clothing line began |
| after news about the bet was leaked. The nickname | | | | expanding its products to include other styles of shirts |
| was shortly changed to "Le Crocodile" because of | | | | and moved on to also include fashion accessories. In |
| Rene's French ethnicity and the name stayed with him | | | | the early 2000's, a French designer named Christopher |
| due to his doggedness and aggressive behavior on | | | | Lemaire took over the design of the Lacoste brand in |
| the tennis court. Later on, a friend of his by the name | | | | an effort to develop a more sleek and upscale look. |
| of Robert George designed a small crocodile logo, | | | | As a result, the popularity of the apparel was |
| which Rene affixed to his personal blazer that he | | | | rejuvenated and Lacoste clothing is now highly in |
| wore while playing tennis. | | | | demand and available in almost all high class |
| When he retired from tennis in 1933, Lacoste | | | | department stores. The company also owns its own |
| partnered with André Gillier and started up the | | | | chain of stores and has several hundred stores |
| company La Chemise Lacoste. They began designing | | | | throughout the world. Today, there are all sorts of |
| a tennis shirt based upon a design and product | | | | Lacoste apparel, from hats to sunglasses. The most |
| created by him in the mid-1920's. The shirt was | | | | famous of course is and most likely always will be the |
| short-sleeved with a ridged collar. Designed to be worn | | | | original Lacoste polo shirt. |
| during matches, the shirt was made from a very lightly | | | | |