The automobile company Alpine and the fashion brand Lacoste have united their French roots in a cobranding that has resulted in a unique car and a capsule collection of clothing. The brands assure that the alliance is inspired, in addition to its origins, by the shared ambition to exceed the limits in their respective disciplines through performance and elegance.

The alliance between the iconic brands has given rise to the “Beware of the Crocodile – Alpine Lacoste A290 Rallye” vehicle and a series of clothing items. They are presented as two complementary expressions of a shared vision of sport, in which innovation is at the service of movement, emotion and style. In addition, the collaboration seeks to pay tribute to the founders of both brands, René Lacoste and Jean Rédélé, and their transformative vision focused on creativity and technical excellence.

the car

The centerpiece of the partnership is the Alpine Lacoste A290 Rallye, a car inspired by the most iconic aesthetic elements of both brands. Specifically, the red tongue of the Lacoste crocodile has been conceived as the starting point of an immersive concept that structures the entire vehicle proposal.

Thus, on the outside, the model reinterprets the codes of the rally with a contemporary design language that evokes the shape and textures of the Lacoste animal. Among other things, it includes large wheels, an air intake on the roof, a large spoiler or visible carbon fiber; all this to demonstrate sportsmanship and competition in its purest form.

Beyond the design, the focus has also been placed on technical aspects to guarantee performance. According to the brands, the car has an optimized chassis to offer greater rigidity and precision, a specific rally suspension, specific management for its electric propulsion system, or a reinforced braking system. It has been conceived “as a vehicle created by motorsport enthusiasts, recovering the essence of driving pleasure, reinterpreting an authentic rally car through the aesthetic universe of Lacoste”:

This is reflected in the graphic details spread throughout the vehicle. The exterior color is a bluish white inspired by alpine landscapes, and evokes snow and ice; while the interior has opted for a monochromatic red and immersive environment, which seeks to create the sensation of entering the crocodile’s mouth. The animal also has a figure on the back.

Inside, you can see a shared Alpine x Lacoste logo, seats covered in Lacoste’s iconic petit piqué fabric, or embroidery made by Potencier, the historic workshop responsible for the brand’s famous crocodiles. In addition, rally seats incorporate parts manufactured through 3D printing to provide lightness, comfort and performance.

Antony Villain, Vice President of Design at Alpine, believes that the car celebrates a way of understanding performance that goes beyond speed. “This collaboration combines the technicality of competition, the lightness of design and the elegance of a timeless style. A car designed for the circuit, but with an authentic aesthetic signature“; he commented in a statement.

The capsule collection

As the brands point out in a statement, the collection has been inspired by the tennis court and the driving circuit and is presented as an extension of the vehicle. It consists of polo shirts, t-shirts, light technical garments and accessories, all with the presence of the visual identity of both brands.

The collection has been designed from elegance and functionality, and seeks to translate the vision shared by Alpine and Lacoste on performance, precision and style to clothing. “Through this collaboration, Lacoste and Alpine celebrate a unique vision of French design, in which innovation always responds to a purpose, performance is at the service of emotion and elegance accompanies movement.“, they explain in the statement.

The garments can be purchased through the Lacoste online store.

communication

The collaboration of Alpine and Lacoste is communicated with “Le Test”, an audiovisual piece starring actor Pierre Niney, Lacoste ambassador, and Pierre Gasly, driver of the BWT Alpine Formula One Team and brand ambassador. Both play themselves and, in a humorous way, test the performance of the vehicle while wearing the clothes from the collection.
It has been produced by Ninety Films, a production company co-founded by Niney.

Lacoste points out that the alliance celebrates French ingenuity based on the legacy, know-how and creativity of both brands. “Lacoste and Alpine share the same culture of innovation, forged from their origins by pioneers convinced that performance is born from both ingenuity and mastery of detail.” commented Eric Vallat, CEO of Lacoste.