LACOSTE SERVES ACE-T1 INNOVATION

Lacoste has unveiled the ACE-T1 sneaker for Spring/Summer 2027, a bold design by Creative Director Pelagia Kolotouros. Featuring a warped silhouette inspired by tennis nets and a real tennis ball embedded in the heel, the shoe fuses sport, fashion and playful innovation, underscoring Lacoste’s heritage and contemporary design vision.

The silhouette itself is warped and technical, echoing the dynamic movement of a tennis net. This architectural approach to footwear design reflects Kolotouros’s commitment to reinterpreting Lacoste’s codes through contemporary innovation. By embedding a real tennis ball into the heel, the ACE-T1 bridges performance and playfulness, offering a visual metaphor for the brand’s enduring connection to the sport.  

The sneaker’s construction emphasises sculptural lines and bold proportions, ensuring it stands out both on the street and in the fashion arena. The tennis ball element is not merely decorative but symbolic, encapsulating the energy, resilience and rhythm of the game. It is a reminder of Lacoste’s founder, René Lacoste, whose legacy as both a tennis champion and style pioneer continues to inspire the brand’s creative direction.  

Kolotouros has described the ACE-T1 as a fusion of heritage and experimentation, a design that challenges conventional sneaker aesthetics while remaining rooted in Lacoste’s DNA. The warped net-inspired silhouette conveys motion and tension, while the tennis ball heel injects humour and originality. Together, these elements create a product that is as much cultural artefact as it is footwear.  

The ACE-T1 arrives at a moment when fashion houses are increasingly exploring the boundaries between sport and style. For Lacoste, however, this is not a trend but a natural extension of its identity. The brand has long been synonymous with tennis, from its iconic polo shirts to its crocodile emblem, and the ACE-T1 continues this narrative with fresh imagination.  

As part of the Spring/Summer 2027 collection, the sneaker signals Lacoste’s ambition to remain at the forefront of design innovation. It is a piece that invites conversation, challenges expectations and celebrates the playful spirit of sport. By literally placing a tennis ball in its shoe, Lacoste has created a symbol of its heritage that is both witty and profound.  

The ACE-T1 is more than a sneaker; it is a statement of intent. It demonstrates how a brand steeped in tradition can reinvent itself for a new generation, blending technical artistry with cultural resonance. In doing so, Lacoste has served up a design that is destined to become one of the season’s most talked-about creations.