IUCN and Lacoste team up again to inspire support for threatened species

As part of its three-year collaboration with IUCN’s SOS - Save Our Species initiative, which began in 2018, the global apparel company Lacoste will sell limited-edition polo shirts where its crocodile logo temporarily makes way for 10 different threatened species. The number of shirts for each species corresponds to the number of known individuals remaining in the wild. While each species faces specific threats, all are in need of increased funding for conservation action to help ensure their long-term survival.

“This campaign highlighting the plight of 10 threatened species will help widen awareness of the global extinction crisis,” said IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “The collaboration with Lacoste is an excellent example of one of many roles that businesses can play to help stop the deterioration of our natural world. Further support from businesses and individuals is urgently needed to conserve the species and ecosystems on which we depend for food security, water security, and countless other benefits.”  

On 22 May – the International Day for Biological Diversity – ten Lacoste stores across the Americas, Europe, Asia and online will put the spotlight on one specific species, selling limited-edition polo shirts related to just that animal. 

“This is an exciting collaboration which is already making a difference; we are delighted that funding from last year’s campaign is helping to conserve Critically Endangered Burmese roofed turtles in Myanmar, for example,” said Thierry Guibert, CEO of Lacoste. 

All profits from the sale of 3,520 limited-edition polo shirts and all other items sold on the day in the ten stores will support IUCN’s efforts to conserve threatened wildlife. A call for proposals will be issued later in 2019 to identify and fund suitable conservation projects. 

Anyone can get involved to help increase funds for species conservation – visit www.saveourspecies.org/donate to learn more and donate.

Notes to editors

For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Goska Bonnaveira, IUCN Media Relations, Tel: +41229990245, Mobile: +41792760185, goska.bonnaveira@iucn.org

Species featured on the limited-edition polo shirts: