In 1933 a young superstar French tennis player named René Lacoste commissioned an English tailor to create a series of polo shirts in cotton and wool. Dubbed ‘The Alligator’ by US press, following a bet he made with the Captain of the French Davis Cup Team over an alligator-skin suitcase, Lacoste placed an embroidered version of the reptile on the right breast of each polo shirt and Lacoste the brand was born.

In the eight decades since, Lacoste grown into a sportswear giant, having equipped the official French ski team, added sunglasses, perfume and leather goods to its arsenal, been worn by greats such as Guy Forget, Gustavo Kuerten and Novak Djokovic, and even started its own foundation, helping young people in vulnerable situations through sports practise.

With this year marking the 85th anniversary of the brand, Lacoste has chosen to celebrate this major mile stamp by diving into its archives to reissue and reimagine iconic pieces. Consisting of unisex polos, dresses, trainers and bags, the collection acts as a wearable timeline through the brand’s history, spliced with contemporary nuances: from the iconic original L.12.12 polo shirt designed by Lacoste in 1933 through the 50’s polo-sweatshirt combo, 60’s V-neck tennis dress and onto the minimalist graphic design of the 00’s.

Lacoste’s 85th anniversary collection is available now in stores and online.