Anyone not actually wearing a Santa suit this Christmas would be well advised to check out Lacoste's new Holiday Collector's Series - its classic polo shirts reinterpreted by some of the top names in the business.

Laurent Vinay, the brand's international director for marketing, was in Bangkok last week to show off the line. The price tag is Bt9,000 - there are only 400 available.

It's been more than 70 years since French tennis hero René "The Crocodile" Lacoste gave his name and the symbol of his nickname to the shortened, white, short-sleeved sports shirt with a ribbed collar, but it remains as iconic as it is ubiquitous.

The fabric used was a jersey petit pique, comfortable and cooler than anything else athletes were wearing at the time.

Seeking an even fresher look, Lacoste first approached American designer Tom Dixon, and he delivered two concepts - the Techno Polo and the Eco Polo.

Lacoste is selling limited-edition "Plus" versions of both shirts, with proceeds going to the Cardiac Children's Foundation of Thailand, which has Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra as its patron.

With just 80 Techno Polo Plus and Eco Polo Plus shirts available, the price is Bt12,500 at Central Lat Phrao, Siam Discovery and Gaysorn.

With a knowledge of industrial design, Dixon experimented with lurex fibres of steel and cotton for the Techno Polo, which looks as sharp in a nightclub as it does on the tennis court.

"The process of making the shirt took six months," Vinay said of the production in France. "It was the first time steel ever that was sewn together with cotton in knitwear."

The slightly looser and less formal Eco Polo is environmentally friendly, relying on natural dyes and organic cotton. On visits to India and Nigeria, Dixon found the right colour in an indigo dye.

Dixon also designed the packaging for the shirts. Techno Polo shirts are vacuum-packed in aluminium foil, while Eco Polo comes in an embossed box made with recycled materials.

Also getting involved with the Holiday Series are the jewellery designers at Chrome Hearts in the US, hatmaker Philip Treacy, British-born and Hong Kong-based designer Michael Young, and Japan's Junya Wantanabe.

Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

The Nation