If you’re a sneakerhead and you’re not paying attention to Lacoste, you’re honestly doing something wrong. Earlier this year, the French sportswear label took the wraps off of the L003 2K24. After a bunch of raving reviews, a collection of fire colourways, and a sleek collab courtesy of Highsnobiety, we now want to take this opportunity to revisit one of the crocodile company’s earlier hits from 2023 – the Lacoste L003 Neo.
Featuring the same design language as the aforementioned L003 2K24, the L003 Neo looks extremely slick and extremely modern. There’s no doubt about any of that. But while it seems like something that you might find in the future, it’s also a love letter to the past. That’s because if you blur your eyes and admire all the soft materials and the wavy panelling, it’ll probably remind you of something. That’s right: a tennis ball.
We’ve gone through the history of Lacoste in detail before, so we won’t do it again. But, basically, the brand was founded by legendary tennis player René Lacoste. Nicknamed “the Crocodile” due to his tenacious playing style, he realised that athletic apparel at the time just didn’t look good. So, in 1933, he launched his own clothing company. And while it originally produced just polo shirts, it eventually expanded into all sorts of things like eyewear, leather goods, watches, and even perfumes.
And that’s why the L003 Neo is so significant. With its multi-material construction that combines ballistic mesh, short-haired suede, and smooth leather overlays, not only is it an aesthetically-pleasing looking trainer, it’s also a silhouette that’s inspired by Lacoste’s rich history and heritage. To add to that, it’s equipped with reflective accents throughout, so you can flex your shoe game even in low-light conditions.
What’s more, the midsole is infused with some of the comfiest rubber that you’ll ever stand on. And thanks to its unique curved design, you’ll get plenty of arch support with every step. All of this is then finished off with the iconic croc logo across the sidewall, and GPS coordinates to its Paris HQ. Why? Well, just in case you ever get lost, and you need help finding the birthplace of tennis, that’s why.
The Lacoste L003 Neo is a sneaker that should definitely be on your radar. And if it’s not, that’s something that needs to change ASAP.
