Lacoste Reworks Its Roots With Global Push Built on Sports

Lacoste is going back to where it started and using it to move forward.

The French brand has launched a global campaign titled "Life is a Beautiful Sport," pairing a refreshed visual identity with a film and print push grounded in its long-standing link to tennis.

The heart of the campaign comes from the idea that sport is an attitude, not just performance.

Directed by Fredrik Bond, the campaign follows a rhythmic run through Paris, anchored by Novak Djokovic and framed around movement, expression, and everyday gestures.

Through fast-paced, hectic sequences across the city streets, inside a kitchen, and within an opera house, it shows the many ways sport shows up in daily life.

"Lacoste was born from tennis, to which it remains intrinsically linked," said CEO Éric Vallat.

"With ‘Life is a Beautiful Sport,’ we reaffirm this vision: that of a sport which, like Lacoste, is expressed through gesture and attitude, and which extends beyond the court to become part of life, with fluidity and elegance."

This carries into the campaign's central system.

Here, the brand introduces updates to its visual identity, including refined typography inspired by René Lacoste’s handwriting.

It also showcases a reworked crocodile emblem based on Robert George’s original illustration.

And while the changes are subtle, they're deliberate.

"The Crocodile is one of the most recognizable emblems in sport and fashion," Vallat said.

"What we are doing today is not redesigning it, but refining how it is expressed."

Ultimately, Lacoste is building continuity across decades, using design, storytelling, and product to push a solid identity grounded in sport. 

How Lacoste Turns Sports Into a Lifestyle

Apart from the film, the campaign includes a print series shot by Angelo Pennetta, placing tennis-inspired movement into everyday Paris settings.

A floating tennis ball appears across scenes as a trigger for posture, balance, and motion.

These visuals highlight key pieces from the refreshed apparel line, including:

• Polo shirts
• Pleated skirts
• Lenglen bag and tracksuit

Lacoste is also tying the campaign closely to its presence at Roland Garros, where it has a long-term partnership through 2030.

The tournament serves as both a media platform and a brand stage bridging elite performance and everyday style.

So instead of separating fashion and sport, Lacoste is merging them into a single system that shows up everywhere the consumer interacts with the brand.

Lacoste’s Identity Refresh

For marketers, Lacoste presents a clear example of how to evolve a brand without losing its core identity:

• Brand updates become more purposeful when they refine recognizable assets instead of replacing them entirely.
• Campaign storytelling becomes stronger when it connects product, heritage, and real-world use into one consistent narrative.
• Partnerships tied to owned platforms like tournaments or events can boost visibility while reinforcing the brand's message.

Lacoste was founded in 1933 by French tennis champion René Lacoste, who revolutionized sportswear by creating the breathable piqué polo shirt.

Our Take: Can Heritage Still Drive Growth?

Lacoste doesn't need to chase trends because it's in its own lane.

Focusing on sports, which is the heart of the brand's humble beginnings, feels like an honest creative decision that those familiar and unfamiliar with the brand can get behind. 

This is what brand confidence looks like.

Lacoste knows it doesn't need to reinvent the wheel if their wheel still rolls better than most.

In other news, Hollister recently revived a 27-year-old song with a music-led graduation campaign.

Campaigns that connect sports, culture, and heritage often require tight alignment across concept and execution.

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