The house revisits its Fall 2026 collection at Guangfulin Park, introducing four looks co-created with Wang Yibo and a see-now, buy-now shopping experience.
Lacoste brought its Fall 2026 collection to Shanghai’s Guangfulin Park for Washed Out Match, Reimagined, a runway presentation that revisited the collection’s original Paris debut through the lens of Chinese cultural heritage. The event marked the first time a complete Lacoste runway collection has been presented outside Paris since Pelagia Kolotouros became Creative Director, introducing a new capsule co-created with global ambassador Wang Yibo alongside a see-now, buy-now shopping experience.
Originally unveiled at Roland-Garros in March, the Fall 2026 collection draws inspiration from a moment in the house’s sporting history. In 1923, an unexpected downpour interrupted a tennis match played by René Lacoste, shifting attention from the court to spectators seeking shelter beneath protective layers. Kolotouros reinterprets this scene through a wardrobe that explores the relationship between performance, protection, and the understated elegance of tennis culture. At Guangfulin Park, the collection’s central theme of water found a natural counterpart in the site’s expansive waterways and historic architecture, establishing a dialogue between Lacoste’s French sporting identity and Shanghai’s cultural landscape.
The collection reimagines familiar Lacoste signatures through technical innovation and unexpected material combinations. Trench coats evolve into poncho-polos, while bonded technical wool and transparent nylon introduce contrasting approaches to weather protection. Plush velvet and the house’s signature René blazer bring a more tailored dimension to the offering, balancing athletic functionality with refined silhouettes. The resulting wardrobe moves beyond conventional sportswear, emphasizing versatility and the intersection of performance and everyday dressing.
A collaboration with Scottish heritage brand Mackintosh further develops the collection’s exploration of weather-resistant clothing. Drawing on Mackintosh’s longstanding expertise in waterproofing, the partnership introduces rainproof tracksuits, pleated trench skirts, and hybrid jacket-shirts. These pieces combine the technical foundations of outerwear with Lacoste’s recognizable sporting codes, reflecting the shared emphasis on craftsmanship and practical design.
The Shanghai presentation also introduced a capsule co-created with Wang Yibo, extending the Chinese actor and musician’s relationship with Lacoste, which began in 2024. Featuring four collaborative runway looks, the capsule incorporates Wang’s personal perspective into the house’s established design language. The project marks an expansion of his role beyond brand ambassadorship, positioning the collaboration as a creative exchange between the artist and the house.
Complementing the runway presentation, Lacoste introduced a see-now, buy-now initiative that allowed consumers to purchase selected pieces as they debuted in Shanghai. A livestream extended the experience to audiences beyond the event, connecting the physical presentation with immediate digital engagement. The format reflects the brand’s efforts to bring its runway collections into closer dialogue with consumers while expanding the reach of its creative initiatives.
The event welcomed an international guest list that included Lacoste global ambassadors Wang Yibo and Taylor Zakhar Perez, alongside Nicole Scherzinger, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, and Zhu Zhu. Their attendance underscored the presentation’s significance as both a fashion event and a cultural occasion, bringing together personalities from entertainment, music, and the broader creative industries.
Following its presentation at the Great Wall of China in 2024, Lacoste’s return to China reflects the house’s continued investment in cultural exchange and its relationship with the market. By placing its Fall 2026 collection within the historic surroundings of Guangfulin Park, the brand extended the narrative established in Paris while introducing new creative and commercial dimensions. Washed Out Match, Reimagined demonstrated how Lacoste’s sporting heritage can be interpreted through different cultural settings without losing the distinctive identity at its core.
