Who co-founded Lacoste with René Lacoste?

André Gillier co-founded Lacoste with René Lacoste.

Gillier was a French textile entrepreneur who brought manufacturing and commercial expertise to Lacoste's sporting vision. René Lacoste had designed a more comfortable short-sleeved tennis shirt in breathable cotton piqué; Gillier helped turn that prototype into a marketable business.

In 1933, the two men formed Chemise Lacoste, initially selling the shirt in Europe and North America. The company's name reflected René Lacoste's public identity, while Gillier's textile background helped make large-scale production possible. Gillier was also associated with the knitted cotton fabric that became central to the brand's signature polo.

The partnership is often obscured because the brand is named after René Lacoste and its crocodile emblem comes from his famous nickname, “the Crocodile.” René supplied the athletic credibility and product concept, but André Gillier was not merely an early employee: he was the business partner who co-founded the company. Lacoste began in 1933, after René retired from professional tennis.