Lacoste’s New Era: A Conversation with Creative Director Pelagia Kolotouros

Pelagia Kolotouros is the creative force behind Lacoste’s new era, where French elegance meets modern sport and sustainability. As the brand’s Creative Director, she’s not just designing clothes — she’s reshaping the way we see Lacoste. With a background that includes heavyweights like Adidas, Yeezy, and The North Face, Kolotouros brings a fresh perspective to the iconic crocodile brand.

A graduate of Parsons School of Design, she’s spent her career blending innovation with ethical responsibility. At Adidas, she led sustainable design projects, pushing for recycled materials and circular fashion. Now, at Lacoste, she’s diving deep into the brand’s DNA, balancing its rich tennis heritage with a bold, contemporary vision. Whether it’s reinterpreting the classic polo or exploring gender-fluid silhouettes, Kolotouros is all about honoring the past while pushing forward.

In this exclusive KHAMSA interview, we sit down with Pelagia to talk about her creative journey, her vision for Lacoste, and what it means to bring sensuality, sustainability, and sport together in one brand.

KHAMSA: Lacoste’s latest collection is a deep dive into René Lacoste’s transformation in the 1930s. What was the most exciting discovery from the archives that shaped your creative direction this season?

Pelagia: My creative journey always begins with extensive archival research. This season, I found particular inspiration in a 1920s dinner photograph featuring René Lacoste among visionaries like Jeanne
Lanvin, Charlie Chaplin, Suzanne Lenglen, and Jean Patou. This photo captures the essence of a transformative moment in René’s life: his journey from tennis player to a man of the society. This period sparked my curiosity and fascination; through this collection, I aimed to spotlight the transition of René Lacoste from a tennis legend to an entrepreneur and fashion icon.

My goal was to share the essence of this defining moment and weave it into the collection, celebrating his evolution into a true “man of the world”.

KHAMSA: Blending sport and high society isn’t an easy task, yet this collection does it seamlessly. How did you balance technical performance with the sophistication of 1930s elegance?

Pelagia: The duality between sport and fashion is a core tenet of our brand’s identity. In this collection, we’ve focused on merging the functional aspects of sportswear with the refined elegance of 1930s sophistication. This commitment is reflected in our choice of fabrics—each one carefully selected to deliver both comfort and technical performance while maintaining a high-fashion aesthetic. For example, we’ve transformed traditional woven flannel into a luxurious double-faced knit, which not only enhances the garment’s visual appeal but also provides superior breathability. This approach allows us to honour the brand’s heritage by creating a collection that bridges the gap between athleticism and elegance, crafting a thoroughly modern interpretation of classic sophistication.

KHAMSA: You’ve reinvented classic Lacoste pieces like the tracksuit, polo, and tennis skirts. Which reinterpretation feels the boldest to you, and why?

Pelagia: It’s tough to single out just one, as every reinterpretation brings its own distinctive flair and resonates differently with our brand enthusiast and our team. However, if I had to highlight one, it would be the reimagining of the tennis skirt. This piece has been pivotal in tennis history, and reinterpreting it was particularly energizing for me. In 1973, René Lacoste transformed the sport with his iconic pleated skirt for Suzanne Lenglen, which allowed female players greater freedom of movement. For this collection, we’ve taken this revolutionary design and reinvented it as high-waisted, fluid pants with an A-line cut, preserving the spirit of innovation while adding a modern twist.

KHAMSA: The show wasn’t just a runway—it was an invitation to the table, inspired by René Lacoste’s legendary dinner parties. How did you translate that sense of connection and cultural exchange into the collection?

Pelagia: We aimed to encapsulate the essence of his legendary dinner parties that nurtured René Lacoste’s avant-garde spirit. The fashion show setting was designed to immerse guests in the same creative energy that originally inspired Lacoste, facilitating exchanges among athletes, artists, and fashion visionaries who influence today’s culture. This collection is decidedly modern, with each silhouette honouring René Lacoste’s forward-thinking approach. His unique vision, blending sport and style, laid the foundation for countless generations of creators who came after him.