PARIS, France — Lacoste has appointed Louise Trotter as its new creative director, effective immediately.

Her arrival marks the first time a woman has sat at the creative helm of the French sportswear brand best known for its crocodile-emblazoned polo shirts, which is celebrating its 85th anniversary this year.

She succeeds Felipe Oliveira Baptista, who exited the brand in May after an eight year tenure, leaving an in-house team to design the brand's Spring/Summer 2019 collection. Trotter's debut collection for the house will be Autumn/Winter 2019.

“Her visionary approach on lines and materials, as well as her expertise in creating highly technical pieces will be real assets to strengthen the positioning of our collections," Thierry Guibert, president of the Lacoste Group, said in a statement.

Sunderland-born Trotter was formerly creative director of British label Joseph, taking over from the brand's founder Joseph Ettedgui who died in 2010. Under her watch, Joseph's own brand became the core of the business, accounting for 87 percent of the company's global sales in 2015 and providing a vehicle for international expansion. She announced her departure from the brand in July.

“For 85 years, the modernity of Lacoste style lies in this singular fusion of sport and fashion,” Trotter said. “I am proud to contribute to the writing of a new chapter in its history.”

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