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LACOSTE - CROCODILE MYTHOLOGY
How much do you know about Crocodile Mythologies ?
Choose a place to discover Lacoste Crocodile Myth-Inspired Sneaker Styles in Limited Edition.
NEW YORK
The Myth
The Croc
Albino crocodile are incredibly rare in the wild and don't survive very long due to lack of pigment in the skin which makes them burn easily.Captive Albino crocodiles must be kept in constant shade to avoid UV rays. As well as eating fish and amphibians, vitamin D3 becomes a staple in a captive Albino crocodile's diet to compensate for the lack of sunlight.
The Revan NYC
The Revan NYC trainer was inspired from the NYPD uniform. The shoe also incorporates an image of a sewer cover on the heel with the LACOSTE logo.JAPAN
The Myth
The Croc
Japan is a country that is not directly recognized as having any members of the Crocodylus species to associate it with, despite there being many crocodile myths.Crocodylus Porosus - the saltwater crocodile has a huge habitat span that is more commonly found throughout Southeast Asia; in freshwater swmaps during the tropical seasons and estuaries in the dry seasons. However this crocodile can alos be found in many strange places, including the Sea of japan. saltwater crocodiles are severely depleted in numbers and research has found that they have become extinct in more than one of the countries that it originated from.
The Saltwater crocodile has a long snout to rival that of the Mugger crocodile from India. Adult males can grow up to 6 metres in lenth and females to 4 metres. saltwater crocs are able to take down a large water buffalo on land and in the water, they have alos been known to attack humans.
This crocodile is an immensely powerful animal, its deadliest attack is called the death roll whereby the crocodile grabs onto its large prey, rolls powerfully and drags the animal into the water.
The René Lacoste Japan
The René Lacoste Japan is inspired from the traditional silk kimono. the fabric has a satin feel, whilst the print is a digital intrepretation of the crocodile skin.SOUTH AFRICA
The Myth
A python and an Albino crocodile were once thought to share the sacred lake in Venda. The python was seen as a fertility god and myth tells us that a Venda man, heartbroken because of the loss of his great love walked into the lake Fundudzi at which time he turned into a python. Nowadays young Venda maidens still perform a dance in honour of the god of fertility. The myth further speculates that virgin Venda maidens offered themselves to the Albino crocodiles and in present day the Venda community believes that the Albino crocodile still lives in the lake, it is therefore seen as sacred. Those who do not live in the area must obtain special permission to visit the lake. It is forbidden to wash or swim in Lake Fundudzi.The Croc
Lake Fundudzi is situated in the South African Thathe Vondo forest and is home to the mystical white crocodile more commonly described as the Albino crocodile.Albino crocodile are incredibly rare in the wild and don't survive very long due to lack of pigment in the skin which makes them burn easily.
Captive Albino crocodiles must be kept in constant shade to avoid UV rays. As well as eating fish and amphibians, vitamin D3 becomes a staple in a captive Albino crocodile's diet to compensate for the lack of sunlight.
The Missouri
The Missouri is an all white shoe inspired by the Albino crocodile of South Africa. The extra detailing on the shoe is taken from the Venda tribe's colourful clothing. This colour is displayed on the insock, lining and sole of the Missouri. In addition white embossed crocodile gloss effect skin features around the entire shoe adding an essence of authenticity and homage to the Albino crocodile.POLYNESIA
The Myth
The Croc
Crocodylus Novaeguinae - The new Guinea crocodile is a small specie found in the aera of New Guinea, Melanesia. Melanesia is atken from the Greek words 'melas' which means black and 'nesos' meaning island. As well as New Guinea, Melanesia includes the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fidji. It is thought that the people inhabiting the aeras origintaed in East Africa, migrating through Indosnesia.Thenew Guinea crocodile grows to a length of 3.5 metres for males and 2.7 metres for females. The body is grey-brown in colour with dark brown and black markings on the tail. The snout is long and narrow to begin with, widening in age. This crocodile has a similar appearance and attributes to the Siamese crocodile, native to Indonesia.
The New Guinea crocodile mainly feeds at night on fish, water birds and other vertebrates such as amphibians and reptiles and resides in freshwater swamps, marshes and lakes.
The Tennis Polynesia
The inspiration for the Tennis Polynesia comes from the New Guinea crocodile and traditional polynesian carvings. The various tones are reminiscent of the brown shadings of the crocodile, whilst the embossed crocodile styled skin on the side of the shoe resembles its hard body armour. The subtle totem pole styled design around the shoe relates to traditional polynesian carvings.EGYPT
The Myth
Crocodiles were honored as gods in Ancient Egypt as they were believed to bring the rains that overflowed the Nile and produced mud to fertilise the lands.At the same time Nile crocodiles were feared for their destructive powe.
Myth tells us about Sobek, a half man, half crocodile who was powerful and frightening. In some stories it was Sobek that came out of the waters to create the world. Gradually Sobek came to symbolise the Nile and the produce that it creates.
Temples in honour of Sobek were built in Egypt around heavely populated crocodile pools. These crocodiles were seen as sacred, if the villagers would look after crocodile pools then Sobek would look after them. When the crocodiles died they were mummified and decorated in jewellery. These are exhibited in some museums in Egypt today.
The Croc
Crocodylus Niloticus-The Nile crocodile has a reputation of being the deadliest and most vicious crocodile of its species. It average between 5 and 6 metres in lengh, with reports of 7 metres long crocodiles having spotted in the Nile.Nile crocodiles are dark bronze in colour with black spots on its back and a yellow colouring on the underside of the belly. The flanks which are yellow-green have dark patches arranged in stripes.
Adult Nile crocodiles have a varied diet including large vertebrates such as buffalo, young hippos and cats. Niles crocodiles are also vicious man eaters. the proximity of the crocodiles habitat to humans means there are frequent run-ins with those living in Egypt and the surrounding areas. Villagers washing their clothes in the river are easier prey than migrating wildebeest. It is estimated that around two hundred people each year die at the jaws of a Nile crocodile.
The Tiller
The Tiller was inspired by anciant Egyptian culture, tribes and architecture. The most notable of which is the pyramid design on the side and the insock of the shoe. The colouring of the upper is representative of the Nile crocodile. The jagged white stitching on the toe of the shoe replicates the crocodiles deadly sharp teeth.WEST AFRICA
The Myth
The Croc
Crocodylus Cataphractus is more commonly know as the slender snouted crocodile of West Africa, in the Republic of Togo. Its name is derived from the Greek word 'krokodeilos' which literally means 'pebble worm'.A higly aquatic specis found in a revine habitat with a dense vegetation cover, mainly feeding on fich and small aquatic invertebrates. This slender snouted crocodile is clad in an amour of protective scales and is small to mdium in size.
It is not uncommon in Africa to meet communities who feel a mystical connection with a crocodile since the ancient myth that a crocodile once saved the life of a Togolese tribe member from drowning. Noawadays the crocodile is seen as a sacred animal, a protector. it is forbidden to kill it and eat the flesh, instead écrocodile ceremonies' are held where sacriticial chickens are thrown to the crocodiles.
Ecological information on this species reveals taht populations for the slender snouted crocodile have depleted, although not yet considered to be in danger of extinction. The largest stronghold can be found in Gabon.
The Tennis 91
The vibrant inspiration for the Tennis 91 shoe cames from the clourful clothing worn by the West African children. This pattern in particular has been taken from the shirt of a West African boy pictured in a photo. The design of the shoe differs from the rest in the collection as it has been inspired more by colour than the crocodile. Hints of African heritage are visible on the tongue of the shoe which incorporate the colours of the Togo flag.INDIA
The Myth
Shankara was born to parents who were childless for a very long time. Myth tells us that one of the Hindu gods appeares to the childless couple in their dreams and offered them a mediocre son who would live for a very long time or an extraordinary son who would not live long. They chose the latter. Shankara grew up excelling in his studies and was always inclinde to a monastic life, however his mother was against him becoming a monk.One day whilst bathing in a river a crocodile grabbed his leg and began to pull him into the water. Only his mother was nearby, and it proved impossible for her to rescue him. Shankara askked his mother to give him permission to renounce the world then an there, so that he could pursue a spiritual life from the moment of death. At the end of her wits, his mother agreed.
Shankara immediately recited the mantras to make a renunciate of himself. Miraculously, the crocodile released him and swam away. Shankara emerged unscathed from the water and from that day on left his home to become a spiritual leader.
The Croc
Crocodylus Palustris - is more commonly refered to as the Mugger crocodile, its name literally meaning 'marsh crocodile' in Latin. The Mugger crocodile is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and surrounding countries. The name 'Mugger' is altered from the Hindu word 'Magar' which means water monster.Adult crocodiles are usualy of grey-brown colouring and have a lighetr colouration on the belly. It has a snout which is the broadest of any member of the Crocodylus spiecie, giving it more of an alligator appearance. Enlarged thorny scales around the throat area protect the crocodile when moving through shallow swampy areas which is the crocodile's habitat of preference.
Adult crocodiles feed on large fish, reptiles and mammals such as snakes, turtles, deer and buffalo. In some areas of India, crocodiles have been known to kill and eat humans washing or peerforming rituals in manmade reservoirs, which is another chosen habitat of the Mugger crocodile.
The Ogata
The inspiration of the Ogata comes from hinduism and indian textiles.The embroidered pattern on the shoe and the luxurious insock come from hindu motifs and iconography found in temples, whilst the pink colouring is inspired by indian textiles and dyes. the use of the grey colouring resembles the skin colouration of the mugger crocodile.
BRAZIL
The Myth
In Western Amazonian Brazil, resides an indigenous tribe called The KARAJA Indians; Population 3000. There is a divide in crocodile myth between western and north western Amazonia.The Karaja indians see the crocodile as a friend, originating from myth that crocodiles were helpful modes of transportation across rivers for mothers and children.
However a separate myth tell us the following...
Two brothers cross a river in a canoe. One opens his eyes and sees that the canoe is an actual fact a crocodile. The crocodile bites one of the brother's right legs off, however the brother's soul is in his right skin.The crocodile is then found and killed, the leg is put back on and the brother is revived.
The Croc
Melanosuchus Niger - The name Melanosuchus means 'black crocodile' and is derived from the Greek word 'melas' meaning black. The black crocodile is the largest species in the Alligatoridae, males can reach up to 4 metres and huge 6 metre crocodiles have been reported.As its name suggests black crocodiles have a dark colouration, grey banding en the lower jaw and pale yellow or white bands across the flank of the body. They have long slender snouts and incorporate larger eyes than most of its specie.
The black crocodile is more commonly found in various freshwater habitats such as slow moving rivers and flooded wetland. It eats fish, including piranhas, catfish and large water rodents. This crocodile shows a more terrestrial hunting activity particularly at night.
With its acute sight and hearing, larger adults have been reported to attack domestic animals and humans.
The Ibiza Amazonia
The IBIZA AMAZONIA is a direct design reflection of the black crocodile native to the region. The shoe is predominantly black in colour with an embossed gloss reptile print across the upper. The yellow bands across the flank of the crocodile are interpreted into the shoe laces and the lining the foxing and insock are inspired from the tribal designs of the KARAJA indians.THE LEGEND - RENE LACOTE
René Lacoste was a member of the famous ‘Musketeers’ team and a star of the International courts winning Wimbledon & The US Open twice and the French Open three times in 1925, ’27 and ’29. In the early years of the 20th century he perfected the sport as we know it today.
It was at the age of 14 that René Lacoste held his first tennis racket and started a passion for tennis which would last him a lifetime and include some of the most emotion packed moments which have now become legendary and entered the history books of tennis.
If Lacoste is a legend it is also a very recognisable style. Authenticity, naturalness, quality and elegance have been some of the characteristics of the brand since its creation in 1933. Nowadays these qualities run through a whole range of products from clothing to footwear, sunglasses, perfume and watches. The crocodile represents endurance, excellence and self awareness instead of aggression and ostentation.
The green crocodile is one of the most famous and recognised logos in the world.
In 1925 René Lacoste stopped in front of a boutique in Boston admiring a suitcase made of crocodile skin. He joked to his team mate Pierre Gillou that he should buy the suitcase to which Pierre replied that if he beat an Australian player in the forthcoming match he would. The bet was on...
René Lacoste did not beat the Australian player, however the bet between team mates had been told to a Boston journalist who published the following. ‘The young Lacoste has not won his crocodile skin suitcase but he fought like a real crocodile’.
From that day on René Lacoste was nicknamed ‘The Crocodile’ and in 1927 his friend designed a ‘croc’ which René Lacoste wore on his blazer – the iconic crocodile logo was born.
René Lacoste, the champion, invented the famous 1212 ‘petit piqué’ polo shirt which quickly became popular on and off the court and featured the now legendary embroidered crocodile logo. This was the first logo to appear on the front of a sports fashion garment. During the 1960’s he introduced two further innovations that were to revolutionise the game and bring it into the modern era. René Lacoste patented the famous anti-vibration string damper and then the first steel tennis racket both improving ball strike and efficiency.