Journal

Born almost at the turn of the century (1904), René Lacoste was very much a product of the 20th century — a century that was early on spoken of as becoming the century of progress and enlightenment. Unfortunately, that prediction proved false in many ways (as evidenced by two world wars and several other heinous atrocities carried out across the globe), but in some respects, it was indeed the cradle of true progress — both technological and political as well as philosophical.

A new world was being built, on the shoulders of scientific advances made in every field imaginable. The New World — the USA — was at the forefront of several of these advances. Cities were being built so high that they scraped the sky, and new materials were created to enhance every aspect of the “modern” man’s way of life. A young René arrived in the 1920s and marvelled at the New York skyline and the grandeur of American tennis stadiums.

René Lacoste is, of course, first and foremost known as a tennis player and the inventor of the short-sleeved polo shirt. But when I say he was a child of his times, I truly mean it. Not only did he invent a garment that completely revolutionized the comfort and ease with which tennis players could now carry out their favorite sport, but he also filed more than 30 patents for new inventions during his lifetime. Among these, you can find the metal tennis racket and the tennis machine, which fires tennis balls toward a player who wants to practice by themselves.

His own style was brilliant, which may have played a role in the popularity of his polo shirts, far beyond the tennis courts. Known for dressing in white (the color of tennis garments back in the early 1900s) with nicely cut coats, jackets, and other garments, his wardrobe seemed to seamlessly tie together a completely unique style.

René himself passed away in 1996, at the respectable age of 92, but so many of his inventions have stood the test of time. We, being the sartorial enthusiasts that we are, are especially occupied with the great impact Lacoste has had on the world of menswear. A Lacoste polo, even many years after its inception, is still a statement piece. It speaks of times past and times yet to come, the birth of the modern world, and the truly timeless nature of a well-thought-out and designed shirt.