LACOSTE

Born in 1904, René Lacoste wins his first tournament at aged 17 and the French Open for the first time in 1924. The press note his perfectionist approach and predict a player of great class.

René Lacoste, a daring innovator

How to provide tennis players with the greatest freedom of movement? René Lacoste found the perfect inspiration by carefully examining the attire of a skilled polo player by the name of Lord Cholmondeley. He then designed a truly revolutionary shirt with a buttoned neckline and short sleeves. Tennis players at that time were accustomed to rolling up their thick shirt sleeves to get a little relief, but René Lacoste’s invention would give them absolute freedom of movement.