Brands
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.
Brands
Hyundai launches updated Ioniq 5 with 84 kWh battery, 690 km range
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh, adds design, tech and safety upgrades.
MUMBAI: Charge it up, stretch it out, Hyundai’s latest electric upgrade is going the distance, quite literally. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has introduced an updated version of its Ioniq 5, packing in a larger 84.0 kWh battery that delivers a claimed range of up to 690 km (ARAI-certified), marking a significant leap in everyday usability for its flagship electric SUV.
Built on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the refreshed IONIQ 5 aims to balance performance with practicality, reducing range anxiety while making long-distance electric travel more viable. The upgrade builds on a model that has already secured global recognition, including the World Car of the Year title.
The changes aren’t just under the skin. On the outside, the SUV gets a sharper, more futuristic look with redesigned front and rear bumpers, new skid plates, sporty alloy wheels, a revised rear spoiler and updated V-garnish lighting, all while retaining its signature Parametric Pixel design.
Inside, Hyundai has focused on making the experience more intuitive. The cabin now features a redesigned three-spoke steering wheel with illuminated pixel elements, dual 12.3-inch displays, and a reworked wireless charging pad integrated with physical controls for seat functions small tweaks that aim to improve day-to-day usability.
On the tech front, the IONIQ 5 gets Hyundai’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC), Controller Over-the-Air (C-OTA) updates, and now supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. New additions such as Active Sound Design and in-car payment integration for EV charging reflect a push towards a more seamless, connected ownership experience. Remote immobilisation via Bluelink has also been introduced as an added security layer.
Safety sees incremental upgrades too, with features like Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (Rear) and side parking distance warnings enhancing manoeuvrability in tight urban spaces.
The updated IONIQ 5 is available in four colour options Gravity Gold Matte, Midnight Black Pearl, Titan Grey and Optic White with an Obsidian Black interior theme.
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh (ex-showroom), the new IONIQ 5 positions itself as a more rounded offering, less about futuristic promise, and more about making electric mobility fit seamlessly into everyday life.
