The chairman of the Lacoste fashion empire prompted laughter in court yesterday as he told how his father's exploits as a world champion tennis player led to the creation of the company's crocodile logo.
Bernard Lacoste, head of La Chemise Lacoste SA, was testifying during a trademark battle with Hong Kong-based Crocodile Garments Ltd over the right to use a crocodile motif on products sold on the mainland.
Mr Lacoste told the judge his late father, Rene Lacoste, had broken new ground in sportswear by daring to appear for the final of the 1928 French Championships wearing a short-sleeved shirt. At the time, the appropriate attire was considered to be a long-sleeved shirt, a blazer and trousers.
His son told the judge: 'He was in the locker room ready to go on to court when the president of the French federation burst in and said, 'Rene, you are not going on court in a short-sleeved shirt'.
'My father answered the president, 'Do you want the final to be played today?' So the final was played with a short-sleeved shirt.' John Scott SC, for Crocodile Garments, said: 'One shudders to think what he would have made of the Williams sisters,' referring to US tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.
Mr Lacoste said the crocodile used by his company on its products worldwide was derived from his father's nickname.
