Everyone has already heard of Le Coq Sportif, a French sportswear brand that we don't really know where to place it. And yet, it has experienced practically everything in the destiny of an equipment manufacturer : notoriety with the recognition of athletes in the 60s and 70s, the takeover by an ogre (Adidas) which caused its bankruptcy in the 90s, and finally the Renaissance.
Today, Le Coq Sportif is reborn, affirming an evolution in its style , without denigrating its close relationship with the world of sport. But then, how has the brand managed to transpose its heritage today?
This is what we sought to understand, by producing a report in their Parisian premises . To understand their evolution, we took stock of their history and met the Head of the Textile Division, as well as the Design Manager of their shoes, then finished with a tour of their concept store.
On the program for this first video:
- The meeting with Jean-Philippe Sionneau, Press and International Manager at Le Coq Sportif , who gives us a brief overview of the history, origins and values of Le Coq Sportif.
- The four values that drive the brand in its heritage of French sports clothing .
- Why Le Coq Sportif is very attached to its presence in the world of sport (because of its history), by supporting athletes from all backgrounds (football, tennis, cycling, etc.).
- How the brand was able to evolve its style.
On the program for this second video:
- The meeting with Magda, Head of the Textile Department at Le Coq Sportif, who ensures that the brand's signature is respected in all creations.
- The reflection of the textile team in the design of the pieces, while respecting very specific codes.
- Le Coq Sportif's inspiration in terms of details and materials, to perpetuate its sportswear DNA.
- How the brand returned to tennis, thanks to Richard Gasquet .
- How the division creates the Le Coq Sportif collection and products .
On the program for this third video:
- The meeting with Frédéric, Head of Footwear Design , who works together with the designers and product managers on the design of the collection.
- How the brand transposes its historical heritage, adapting their pieces with a contemporary touch .
- The ketching stages and computer rendering of Le Coq Sportif pieces with the designer team.
In this fourth video:
- A visit to the Le Coq Sportif workshop (a real concept store) with Jean-Philippe Simonneau.
- How you can personalize a t-shirt or sweatshirt in the concept store.
- How flocking is a technique that is part of the DNA of Le Coq Sportif.
- And above all, Rémi's poses (which have nothing to envy of Jean Dujardin).
Test of the Le Coq Sportif brand by Nicolas
The following test allows me to tell you about the collection that has been in store at Le Coq Sportif since winter 2014.
This is a very sportswear-oriented collection with lots of jersey and bright colors. In fact, they are sportswear suitable for the city . And that's normal, since the entire Le Coq Sportif look is still modeled on a sportswear base ; regardless of the parts. In this collection, we find lots of good twist ideas, which boost sporty pieces in well-chosen colors.
The idea of this article is to show you that you can integrate slightly more sportswear pieces into your look , while maintaining a “BonneGueule” look. (i.e. with a certain style) .
I won't hide from you that I wouldn't have thought of wearing the two pieces that I'm going to present to you, so I totally took part in the game!
Retro-running sneakers
We no longer present the Le Coq Sportif retro-running sneakers . At the time, in the 70s, they were recognized for design, comfort and technicality . Today, they are constantly reworked to always be up to date.
There is something that immediately appealed to me with this model: it is the bright colors, even a little provocative. The pictures speak for themselves !
This photo was not subject to any manipulation, it's just that the photo was taken at the right time.
I felt like I was returning to the bright color combinations of my childhood (especially those of the figurines found in cornflakes) . For me, it lends itself perfectly to this type of sneaker, I'll explain why...
But above all, I reassure you: no fly has bitten me, I am still (and just as much as you), capable of appreciating a pair of Buttero or National Standard, not to mention a beautiful pair of leather ankle boots. leather, always within reach.
Here are the shoes, standing still, in profile, quiet .
So, despite all this love for beautiful shoes, why not choose a more sober model, you ask me? Blue and red for example ? In my eyes, it was above all an opportunity to test a new pair of sneakers that was a little more original, to which I would not have spontaneously been interested.
A beautiful blue with small touches of pink to reinforce the character.
It was also an opportunity to put myself in the shoes of a sneaker collector ; like Alexandre at home who pays meticulous attention to these precious pairs (they are still "like new" after several years, don't ask me how he does it...).
So, I decided to play the game to the fullest. I went for the pink and purple sneakers and frankly, I was pleasantly surprised . I'll admit, sometimes I feel a bit like I have Steve Jobs style or have remote-controlled cars on my feet. Compared to my everyday look, these sneakers are not always suitable, but it is with great pleasure that I put them on in the morning if I feel like it.
Finally, I was particularly inspired by some sharp looks seen at Pitti Uomo . Yes, Pitti is uninhibited . This is what I tried to imitate in these photos: with a dressed-to-the-point sartorial look and a pair of sneakers with a vintage look and bright colors. As for the in-between, any raw jeans or chinos will do the job.
This is the result: beautiful sobriety with colorful sneakers.
The zebra sweatshirt
This sweatshirt is like retro-running: I integrated it into my style, taking it completely out of its context. If you see it in a store, there's a good chance you'll say to yourself: "It's a sportswear sweatshirt, it's cool, but not really my style...". However, if you adapt it well, the result is very nice !
It's all in the look, I tell you.
Just try to make it a strong piece in basic colors. After all, it's just a gray and black sweatshirt, so overthinking is prohibited .
It’s also a piece that can help you break away from the easy pattern: beautiful material + beautiful cut = beautiful piece.
It's a slightly more fun sweatshirt, we're not talking about discreet elegance but a slightly nice sweatshirt that adds punch to your outfit: you have to see it as such.
It doesn't seem like it, but wearing a coat like this isn't easy.
Conclusion
I am overall satisfied with the parts I tested. They have a sophisticated design and a satisfactory quality/price ratio. In the Le Coq Sportif collections we find good basics as well as more elaborate and eccentric pieces. Dare to use colors and patterns!
