Izod Lacoste
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Izod Lacoste was a brand name of sportswear licensed to Izod by Lacoste from 1952-1993.[1]
History of the partnership
In 1953, David Crystal, the owner of Izod and Haymaker, bought 50% of the rights to market Lacoste in America. The "Izod" and "Haymaker" brands were already established there. "Lacoste" was added to enhance the brands' prestige and introduce the name to American markets. The resulting union of the two companies was the piqué polo/tennis shirt. When the shirts began to sell well, Crystal decided to keep the combined names. The brand hit its peak popularity in the late '70s and early '80s when the "preppy" look became mainstream, with many nationwide department stores featuring separate "Izod/Lacoste" shops, with jackets, sweaters and a wide variety of other apparel. During this period annual sales reached $150 million for the shirts alone.
Decline
The "preppy" trend cooled in the late 1980s and the brand became overexposed.[2] The market was also saturated with knock-off replicas. The name was split in the early 1990s when Crystal sought to expand company sales. Lacoste moved upmarket in an attempt to recapture its "elite" status. Meanwhile, Izod was re-introduced as mid-range apparel. While this tactic worked for a short period, it could not support Crystal's company, which was heavily in debt due to poor investments in other brands such as Salty Dog and Gant. The marketing license was ended in the mid-1990s after his company became too financially burdened. In 1993, he sold his 50% share of Lacoste to Sportloisirs S.A. (who originally marketed the shirt in France). When the company folded shortly thereafter, Izod was sold to the shirtmaker Van Heusen.
Today
Izod and Lacoste both continue to produce similar piqué polo shirts and are often mistakenly believed to be the same company. Lacoste polo shirts have the crocodile logo, while Izod has a monogram crest. Izod has had a number of re-positionings in the market place (its current image being mid-range preppy and performance apparel). Lacoste has only recently become available again in the United States, though its current positioning remains entirely upscale. Both brands continue to be popular.
References
- ^ Spivack, Emily (4 June 2013). "The Story Behind the Lacoste Crocodile Shirt". Smithsonian magazine. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ^ Kalb, Ira S. (1 January 1995). Nuts & Bolts Marketing. K&A Press. p. 56. ISBN 9780924050060. Retrieved 13 November 2014.