Recognising Genuine Lacoste: An Authentication Guide
The Lacoste crocodile has been copied for decades: the French polo shirt is one of the most counterfeited garments in the world. Here is how to recognise a genuine polo shirt — and, more broadly, a genuine Lacoste piece.
At NB08, every piece is checked and authenticated in our boutique before it goes on sale. Here are the checks that work.
Why check the authenticity of a Lacoste piece?
A seemingly simple logo and worldwide distribution: fake polo shirts circulate everywhere, from street markets to resale sites. The details of the crocodile and the piqué separate the genuine from the fake.
The embroidered crocodile: the details that count
The authentic crocodile is a detailed embroidered patch: visible scales, distinct legs and teeth, open jaws facing right, a crisp white inside the mouth, dense embroidery with clean edges. Copies produce a 'green blob' crocodile with blurred details. This is check number one, in macro.
Labels and size consistency
A woven Lacoste neck label with a consistent French size (2, 3, 4, 5, 6…), and a composition label with product code and country of manufacture. On an L.12.12 polo shirt, the numerical size and the fit must match. Crudely printed labels or S/M/L sizes alone on a classic model: be wary.
The piqué and the finishing
The L.12.12's fine cotton piqué is dense and even, with its characteristic honeycomb texture; the ribbed collar and cuffs are firm, the mother-of-pearl buttons marked, the side vents finished. A flat jersey sold as piqué is a deal-breaker.
Price and seller: the warning signs
Bundles of new polo shirts sold off cheap are the classic scam. Ask for real photos of the crocodile and the labels.
Checklist: authenticating a Lacoste piece in 7 points
- Detailed crocodile: scales, teeth, legs
- Embroidered patch with clean edges
- Neck label with a consistent FR size
- Product code present
- Dense honeycomb piqué
- Mother-of-pearl buttons, firm collar
- Realistic price and reliable seller
Buy authenticated Lacoste at NB08
All our Lacoste pieces are checked and authenticated in our boutique before they go on sale.
