Documenting every species living in the world's zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries is an ambitious goal of National Geographic's Photo Ark project led by its fellow and award-winning photographer Joel Sartore.
The effort celebrates the diversity and splendour of the animal kingdom. Lacoste and National Geographic have collaborated in a capsule collection that further raises the importance of conservation.
From Sartore's archive of over 10,500 species, the French lifestyle brand chose four creatures because of their exceptional beauty and vibrant background.
The graphics and prints are inspired by the coats and scales of four beautiful creatures. (Photos courtesy of Lacoste)
The coats and scales of the Grévy's zebra (Equus grévy), the green and black poison dart frog (Dendrobates auratus), the Halloween pennant dragonfly (Celithemis eponina) and the jaguar (Panthera onca) inspire the collection's graphics and prints.
A polo comes entirely covered in bold jaguar, zebra and frog prints. Nodding to the way animals transform and camouflage, the padded jacket, fashioned in dragonfly and frog prints, is reversible, changing effortlessly from energetic animal print to classic navy.
The designs also feature yellow details that recall National Geographic magazine, such as the stripe on the neckline of the polos and sweaters.
The Lacoste x National Geographic collection is also about education. Every garment comes with a special hang-tag detailing information about each species.
Did you know that most poisonous dart frogs aren't poisonous at all? Or that the Halloween pennant dragonfly gets its spooky name from its orange wings?
Or that the spots of the jaguar are called rosettes, and that while leopards have these too, only the jaguar has spots inside its spots?
Naturally, all the materials within the eco-responsible collection, from recycled polyester of the bags to organic cotton of the polos and natural rubber outsoles on footwear, have been certified sustainable and recycled.
