LACOSTE

LACOSTE is a French sportswear and lifestyle brand founded in 1933 by tennis champion Rene Lacoste and entrepreneur Andre Gillier, making it one of the first labels in history to feature a logo on its clothing. That logo, a green crocodile, was born from Lacoste's on-court nickname "the Crocodile," earned during his 1927 Davis Cup run when he reportedly made a bet with the team captain involving a crocodile-skin suitcase. The brand was built on a single philosophy: playing and winning are not enough without style. Lacoste invented the polo shirt, the L.12.12, designing a lighter cotton pique garment to replace the stiff formal shirts worn on court at the time. Rene Lacoste was a seven-time Grand Slam champion (four French Open, three Wimbledon titles) who carried that champion mindset into fashion. That innovation became the foundation of a brand that now operates across clothing, footwear, eyewear, leather goods, fragrance, and watches in more than 100 countries. In Korea, LACOSTE operates through Dongil LACOSTE. The brand has built a significant K-pop ambassador roster: ILLIT was named brand ambassador for Lacoste Japan in March 2025, while IVE's Yujin An was announced as Lacoste's Korea ambassador in April 2025, making her debut appearance at the 2025 Fall/Winter fashion show at Roland Garros. In February 2026, Kai of EXO succeeded her as Lacoste Korea brand ambassador, with Lacoste citing his "on-stage strength and controlled energy" as reminiscent of the brand's crocodile symbol. LACOSTE maintains over 9 million Instagram followers.