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Lacoste Fall-Winter 2026 reimagines rain-delayed heritage
Philippe Chatrier show draws from 1923 Davis Cup downpour with tech-heritage outerwear.
MUMBAI: Lacoste just turned a rained-out match into runway gold because when the court floods, even the trench coat becomes a trophy. Staged on the iconic Philippe Chatrier court at Roland-Garros, Lacoste’s Fall-Winter 2026 show transformed the legendary clay into a theatrical rain-delayed match, paying homage to July 31, 1923, when René Lacoste battled Spain’s Manuel de Gomar in a Davis Cup tie in Deauville. A sudden downpour flooded the grass, forcing spectators to toss newspapers on the court to aid drying while players and onlookers sheltered under umbrellas, trench coats, ponchos, slickers and rubber boots. The match stretched over two days, but Lacoste prevailed in four sets, propelling France toward the finals and setting young René on his path to world champion status.
Creative director Pelagia Kolotouros drew inspiration from that historic interruption and its themes of waiting, resolve, preparation and performance. Rather than focusing solely on centre-court action, she examined spectator culture and the interstitial moments where outerwear mattered as much as the game itself. The collection expands Lacoste’s evolving relationship with outerwear through waterproofing and technical fabrication: the trench as foundation, the poncho reimagined as an evolved polo, bonded tech wool as elemental shield. Padded, voluminous pieces in transparent nylon or with wet/reflective finishes layer against plush velvet and soft tailoring of the emblematic René blazer. The crocodile appears in confident new expressions via embroideries and archival emblem treatments.
A standout Roots Collaboration capsule co-created with Mackintosh, the Scottish outerwear house founded in 1824 blends two heritages shaped by weather and performance. Mackintosh’s signature rubberized, hand-glued and hand-taped cotton informs gender-fluid Neo-Tennis pieces, poncho polo, rain-proof tracksuit, pleated trench skirt, hybrid track jacket shirt. Heritage patterns meet technical fabrics, cable-knit sweaters pair with high-performance nylons, and classic silhouettes gain fresh function.
The palette shifts from cool greys, inky heathers and dark wet metals to vivid Agave Green (post-downpour grass) and Rusty Red (Roland-Garros clay under sudden rain). Accessories include weathered trophy pins, Grand Slam T-shirts, iconic tracksuits, a digital watch with stretch bracelet, the Lenglen bag in new proportions with silicon grip handle, racquet cover and tennis ball clutch in Mackintosh fabrics.
The show captured what young René understood leaving that flooded court: the real game is the perpetual dialogue between body and elements. In a collection that fuses athletic purpose with archival poetry, Lacoste proves heritage isn’t preserved in glass cases, it thrives when you let the rain fall and keep playing through it.
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Ather Energy doubles service network to 500 centres nationwide
EV maker scales support alongside growth to keep riders on the road
MUMBAI: Ather Energy is quietly building more than just scooters. It is building the backbone to keep them running.
The electric two-wheeler maker has expanded its service network to 500 authorised centres across India, nearly doubling its footprint in a year from 277. The move mirrors its growing retail presence and signals a clear focus on one often overlooked part of EV ownership, what happens after the purchase.
From the outset, Ather has prioritised service support in every city it enters, aiming to make ownership as smooth as the ride itself. Its Gold Service Centres bring in upgraded customer lounges, modern equipment and processes designed to make servicing more transparent and reliable.
Speed, too, is part of the pitch. Through its ExpressCare initiative, riders can get periodic maintenance done in about an hour, now available across 82 centres, turning what used to be a chore into a quick pit stop.
Ather Energy chief business officer Ravneet Singh Phokela said, “Crossing 500 service centres is an important milestone as we scale across the country. Reliable after-sales support is central to the ownership experience, and our focus remains on consistent service quality and accessibility.”
The expansion comes as demand grows for models like the Ather 450 and the Rizta, which have helped the company reach a broader set of riders across metros and emerging cities alike.
Alongside servicing, Ather continues to power up infrastructure through the Ather Grid, now one of the largest fast-charging networks for two-wheelers, with over 4,300 charging points.
With plans to scale further and deepen its presence, Ather’s approach is clear. Selling the scooter may start the journey, but keeping it running smoothly is what sustains it.
