René LACOSTE was the first, together with his friends "The Musketeers", to steal the DAVIS CUP away from the Americans in 1927.
He won the French Open three times (1925, 1927 and at the ROLAND-GARROS stadium in 1929), twice in Great-Britain at WIMBLEDON (1925 and 1928) and twice the U.S. OPEN at Forest Hills (1926 and 1927). This is the way in which René LACOSTE entered the legend of tennis.
René LACOSTE was born in France on July 2, 1904 and died on October 12, 1996.
The true story of the "Alligator" begins in 1927. René LACOSTE liked to tell the way his nickname became an emblem recognized throughout the world.
"I was nicknamed "the Alligator" by the American press, after I had made a bet with the Captain of the French DAVIS CUP Team concerning a suitcase made from alligator skin. He promised to give it to me if I won a very important match for our team.The public must have been fond of this nickname which conveyed the tenacity I displayed on the tennis courts, never letting go off 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, René 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.
This was probably the first time a brand name had ever been visible on the outside of an item of clothing - an idea which since then has done extremely well.
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 bands and was made of a light knitted fabric called "Jersey petit piqué". It continues to offer the same quality, comfort and solidity on which it built its name and which constitute its uniqueness.
He won the French Open three times (1925, 1927 and at the ROLAND-GARROS stadium in 1929), twice in Great-Britain at WIMBLEDON (1925 and 1928) and twice the U.S. OPEN at Forest Hills (1926 and 1927). This is the way in which René LACOSTE entered the legend of tennis.
René LACOSTE was born in France on July 2, 1904 and died on October 12, 1996.
The true story of the "Alligator" begins in 1927. René LACOSTE liked to tell the way his nickname became an emblem recognized throughout the world.
"I was nicknamed "the Alligator" by the American press, after I had made a bet with the Captain of the French DAVIS CUP Team concerning a suitcase made from alligator skin. He promised to give it to me if I won a very important match for our team.The public must have been fond of this nickname which conveyed the tenacity I displayed on the tennis courts, never letting go off 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, René 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.
This was probably the first time a brand name had ever been visible on the outside of an item of clothing - an idea which since then has done extremely well.
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 bands and was made of a light knitted fabric called "Jersey petit piqué". It continues to offer the same quality, comfort and solidity on which it built its name and which constitute its uniqueness.