Lacoste may be best known for its presence on the tennis court, but today its designer Felipe Oliveira Baptista chose to honour its founder Ren Lacoste's lesser-known career history working in the aircraft industry during the time of the first transatlantic crossings.

For Baptista, whose father was a pilot, this meant delving into the world of space travel - a place where fantasy meets technology.

Accordingly, the models in this New York Fashion Week show took their turn on a catwalk transformed to resemble the surface of Mars.

High performance fabrics - a signature ingredient in any Lacoste catwalk collection - were propelled to new heights, with high-shine foil nylon coupled with fleece and industrial leather, while the hero of the offering was a series of boilersuits inspired by the uniform of astronauts. Though the result, while futuristic, was far from unattainable.

"I didnt want it to look like a cold, futuristic vision of the future," said Baptista, speaking backstage after the show.

To this end, the Portuguese designer brought the collection back down to earth with a host of natural elements, from the wool and linen lining the inside of reversible waterproof jackets, to the fluid cocoon shapes seen on velour drawstring dresses.

Functionality also remained high on the agenda with multiple patch pockets and roomy backpacks. Bold colour combinations, such as ochre with lilac, were also taken from the landscape of the cosmos, while the iridescent prints of planets were reproductions from the work of space artist Ron Miller.

But Baptistas vision wasnt focused solely on the future, he also took one giant leap into the Nineties seeking further inspiration. Citing legends such as Kurt Cobain among his muses, the designer recast grunge signatures including checked shirts and slouchy mohair cardigans.

"I wanted to explore what was timeless about the nineties," said Baptista. Jumbo cord cargo pants, puffer jackets and hooded cagoules were also among Lacostes future classics.

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Lacoste delves into the world of space travel at New York Fashion Week as Baptista honours founder's lesser-known ... - Evening Standard