The crocodile's first steps. Boston, 1923. Young tennis prodigy René Lacoste is 19 and likes a challenge. His team captain promises him the crocodile leather suitcase the player admired in a store window if he wins his upcoming match. More recently, Lacoste's popularity has surged[citation needed] due to French designer Christophe Lemaire's work to create a more modern, upscale look. In 2005, almost 50 million Lacoste products sold in over 110 countries.[citation needed] Its visibility has increased due to the contracts between Lacoste and several tennis players, including former American tennis players Andy Roddick and John Isner, French veteran Richard Gasquet, and Swiss Olympic gold medalist Stanislas Wawrinka. Lacoste had also begun to increase its presence in the golf world, where noted two time Masters Tournament champion José María Olazábal and Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie have been seen sporting Lacoste shirts in tournaments. One brand, one team, one voice, for a controlled growth based on operational excellence, customer satisfaction and talent development. Our mission is to make Lacoste a unique casual luxury brand embodying elegance such as frenchness. This requires a high level of quality and professionalism within areas such creation, style, manufacturing and retail. Lacoste products and employees make clients live a unique experience regardless of the distribution network, physical or digital, everywhere in the world.
- Woody floral musk fragrance for men Style in Play was launched in 2004
- Nose behind this fragrance is Annick Menardo