PHOTOS: The Lacoste Celebrating Eighty exhibit

CUBICLE ONE: THE ICONIC POLO SHIRT. Carefully curated display of the Lacoste polo shirt through the years.
All photos by Kai Magsanoc

Here are the moments and mementos that caught my eye at the exhibit event last January 13

MANILA, Philippines - Lacoste is celebrating 80 years this 2014 with a road show-exhibit whose last day is today, January 16, at the Shangri-La Mall East Wing Atrium. It was first displayed last January 10 to 12, and reopened on January 14.

Lacoste celebrates 80th with Shangri-La Mall exhibit

An event to honor 80 years of Lacoste was held last January 13, attended by members of the press and industry insiders. David Celdran hosted the short program. Model Bianca Valerio and socialite Tessa Prieto-Valdes accompanied the guests inside the interactive exhibit comprised of 3 cubicles:

• 80 Years of Reinventing the Codes
• 80 Years of Natural Evolution
• 80 Years of Reinventing Silhouettes in Motion

Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr made a rare appearance. It was his company, Store Specialists Inc (SSI), who brought the brand to Manila in 1973. Lacoste remains under the tutelage of SSI, who just opened the brand's Agora-inspired store also at the East Wing, right where the exhibit is located.

Here are my photos from the event:

#LACOSTE80MANILA. Press and fashion industry insiders wait for the program to begin

CELEBRATING 80. Rene Lacoste was dubbed "The Crocodile" in tennis, hence the brand's logo

 These are my favorite shirts in the display:

Among the featured collaborators are Tom Dixon, Michael Young, Li Xiaofeng, Jonathan Adler, Campana Brothers, Visionaire, Michael Stipe and Karl Lagerfeld.

POLO OF THE FUTURE. Video loop about the iconic L.12.12 polo shirt and the brand's evolution

TIMELINE. Printed along the walls of cubicle two are the story of Lacoste and trivia about the crocodile

THE YEAR THAT WAS. 1933 was a historic year in the world of sportswear thanks to these two men

CROCODILE CURIOSITIES. A display in the center shows all the ways the crocodile logo has looked through the years

POIGNANT MOMENT. Amb Bienvenido Tantoco Sr reads the Lacoste story.
I wanted to approach him for a photo but was too shy to disturb him!

IMAGES. The 3rd cubicle has walls of photos, from those of Rene Lacoste to fashion runways and campaigns

NOT JUST SPORTSWEAR ANYMORE. Lacoste today can be worn in more occasions than just a tennis game

THE PROGRAM. David Celdran takes the mic and begins the short program

LACOSTE MEN. His Excellency Amb Gilles Garachon, Amb Bienvenido Tantoco Sr and SSI EVP Anton Huang  

AGORA-INSPIRED. The Lacoste store at the East Wing that was opened in late 2013

COMMEMORATIVE SHIRTS. Designed by British art director Peter Seville

 I went around the store and these were some "wants" I spotted:

ASTROBOY. '80s babies, unite! :)

WALL OF SHOES. Designs range from basic to edgy

PERFECT COMBINATION. This blouse with that duffel bag is love

SIZED JUST RIGHT. These bags are perfect for weekends out

Don't miss the last day of the Lacoste exhibit today, January 16. Learn why the brand endures and continues to dominate the sportswear genre. I'm planning to drop by again, too. See you! - #CoffeeWithKai