For over 75 years the LACOSTE brand has been associated with Crocodiles.  It began in 1925, when Rene Lacoste, the founder of the brand, made a bet with Pierre Gillou, the French Davis Team Captain,  the prize being a crocodile skin suitcase that Rene had spotted in the shops of Boston.

To commemorate this association LACOSTE are releasing a collection of 9 shoes that celebrate the legend of Rene Lacoste and the Mythologies surrounding crocodiles around the world.

The shoes will be released over three months (April, May and June 2009) and will only be available from an exclusive selection of stores globally.

Today we present you the May 2009 releases of the pack, consisting of the Revan 3 NYC in three colorways and the Missouri Albino.

The Revan NYC has been created in two colourways, both on a black leather upper, the blue highlights are inspired by the uniform of the New York Police and the yellow is a comical take on the toxic waste within the New York sewers.  Both shoes have a gloss croc pattern across the upper and feature an etched manhole cover graphic on the heel.  The croc pattern continues onto the side of the sole with the colour highlights also appearing as part of the sole pattern.

In honour of the Albino Crocodile, the Missouri has an upper constructed from different material mixes all in white.  The bright colour pops on the in-sock, sole and surround of the shoe top are taken from the traditional clothing of the Venda tribe. Additional pairs of laces are included in each of the bright colour pops

Check out the two Lacoste Revan 3’s and the Missouri from the limited edition Crocodile Mythology Collection in detail after the jump.

French sneaker magazine Shoes-Up has collaborated with Lacoste on the Missouri. Paying homage to the classic hat that is worn in France and Basque Lands, where René Lacoste is from, the sneaker comes entirely covered in wool. Matching the wool look, the Lacoste crocodile logo also comes in black rubber. The inner sole features the Shoes-Up crest logo. The outcome is one of the best Lacoste sneakers that we have seen this year, perfect for the fall season.

The Shoes-Up x Lacoste Missouri will be coming in a hat box, along with a 148 page book, featuring photographs by Charles Levy. The sneakers are limited to 160 pairs worldwide and will be released at Colette, Dover Street Market, Limited Edition and five more stores around France.

Have a more detailed look after the jump.

Here comes yet another collaboration project by Lacoste, after we have most recently seen their work in collaboration with A.R.C.
This time they got together with Oxford’s sneaker boutique Ryouki on the "Double Negative" project. The sneaker boutique and Lacoste worked on two colorways of the Missouri, working mostly with black, white and shades of grey. The outcome is a very solid pack of sneaker with just the right amount of details. Via Crooked Tongues.
You can expect a release some time around November.
More detailed images after the jump.

Six new versions of the Lacoste Missouri are on tap for Sping/Summer ‘08. After first reappearing in collaboration with Sneaker Freaker, the Missouri mixes nubuck and full grain leather. The “croc” editions feature the famed Lacoste crocodile logo on the side panels, and are punched up with an addition of patent leather.
Check the remaining five color ways after the jump.