The Izod-Lacoste connection began with René Lacoste's 1933 tennis shirts and a mid-century U.S. licensing deal that produced Izod Lacoste polos for the American market. The collaboration helped turn the crocodile-branded polo into an icon of leisure and golf attire. Licensing changes in the late 20th century separated the brands; Lacoste remains an international fashion house while Izod continues as an American casual apparel label.

A short heritage: tennis, a crocodile, and a shirt

Izod remains a familiar name in casual and golf apparel largely because of a mid-20th-century partnership with Lacoste, the French tennis brand founded by René Lacoste and André Gillier in 1933. Lacoste's polo - marked by the crocodile - was born on tennis courts and became a global symbol of sporty leisure.

How Izod and Lacoste came together

In the decades after World War II, a U.S. licensing arrangement paired the Lacoste shirt with the Izod name for the American market, producing garments labeled Izod Lacoste that helped popularize the polo beyond tennis into general leisure and golf wear. The dual-branding made the crocodile emblem and the piqué polo a staple of the so-called "preppy" look that grew in the 1960s and 1970s.

Design changes and product expansion

Originally worn as a functional tennis shirt, the Lacoste-style polo moved into more colors and styles over time. What had been a largely white athletic shirt became available in many solid colors and patterns. The partners - and later the Izod licensees - broadened the line to include sweaters, tennis dresses, casual shoes, children's clothing, and other leisurewear, cementing the polo's place in mainstream American wardrobes.

The end of the joint branding and where the names stand now

License arrangements changed over the years, and by the early 1990s the formal Izod Lacoste relationship ended, leaving the two names to follow separate routes in branding and distribution. Today, Lacoste operates as its own international brand centered on the crocodile emblem. Izod continues as an American sportswear and casual brand, most visible in polo shirts and golf apparel.

Why the story still matters

The Izod-Lacoste story illustrates how licensing and co-branding can move a product from a niche sport to mainstream fashion. The crocodile logo and the piqué polo remain potent examples of how athletic clothing crossed into everyday and leisure style.
  1. Confirm exact year and legal details when the Izod-Lacoste licensing arrangement ended and when joint branding ceased (source: brand histories, company filings).
  2. Verify current ownership and brand status of Izod as of 2025 (source: corporate filings or brand websites).
  3. Confirm any specific claims about who introduced color options and the timeline for color expansion (source: Lacoste historical materials).

FAQs about Izod Shirts

Was Lacoste founded by a tennis player?
Yes. René Lacoste, a French tennis champion, co-founded the brand with André Gillier in 1933; the company is best known for the crocodile-logo polo shirt.
Did Izod create the crocodile logo?
No. The crocodile (often called an alligator in early U.S. press) originated with René Lacoste. The logo appeared on shirts produced under Lacoste's name and later on Izod-Lacoste licensed products.
When did Izod and Lacoste stop using the joint brand?
The joint branding and licensing arrangement ended in the late 20th century, leaving the two brands to operate independently by the early 1990s.
Is Izod still made today?
Yes. Izod continues to be produced as a U.S. sportswear and golf apparel brand, known for polos and casual wear.
Why is the polo associated with the ‘preppy’ look?
The polo moved from tennis courts into colleges and country clubs in the 1960s and 1970s, where its clean, sporty aesthetic matched the rising preppy style and leisure culture.

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