From one prototype to a long-term partnership

Sometimes a long-term partnership starts with a very small beginning.For Lagoped, it started at ISPO in January 2018. The French outdoor brand had recently found Tekosom through Google and arrived at the show with just one prototype of their SUPA pants and EVE jacket, hastily put together the day before the show.

Christophe Cordonnier, Co-founder of Lagoped, remembers the first meeting with Tekosom:

“Honestly, we must have looked like we came straight from outer space. They must have wondered if there was really much of a collection behind that one prototype.”

The photo from that first ISPO gives a good glimpse of those early days, with Lagoped’s first prototypes on display at the booth.

At the time, Lagoped had one prototype and a lot of ambition. As Christophe looks back on it today, it was certainly not the most extensive collection to bring to a trade show. But somehow, it was enough to get Tekosom interested.

As Mikael later confessed, the whole project seemed so improbable that it was actually worth giving it a try.

That first meeting at ISPO became the beginning of a partnership that has now lasted for more than eight years.

Starting small

Looking back at that first ISPO, Christophe remembers a few things with a smile: “Thank God we finally normalized our logos. And it’s a good thing we had some T-shirts to fill up all the empty space!”

Jokes aside, that rather unconventional start became the foundation for a long-term partnership.

That very first 3-layer mountaineering outfit is still part of Lagoped’s collection today. Over the years, with every production batch, Tekosom’s expertise and guidance have helped Lagoped improve and refine the garment.

What started with one prototype has grown into a close working relationship built around technical knowledge, communication and trust.

More than a manufacturer

As Lagoped has grown, so has the collaboration with Tekosom. The work has developed beyond production itself, with Tekosom supporting Lagoped with technical knowledge, guidance and feedback throughout the process.

“Tekosom has been by Lagoped’s side since day one, back when we only had one prototype and a crazy dream. They took a chance on us, and we never looked back. Today, they are so much more than a manufacturer.”

As the collaboration has developed, the relationship has become about more than production. It is built on the knowledge, flexibility and commitment of the people involved.

“The team is incredibly passionate, agile and engaging. Thanks to their deep knowledge and expertise, they guide us and provide high-quality feedback at every single stage of production. They are a truly reliable, human-driven factory that we fully trust.”

That close way of working is particularly important when developing technical garments. Materials, construction and production details all need to work together, and the process often involves adjustments and improvements along the way.

From one prototype to today

Looking back, it is quite a journey from that first ISPO booth with one prototype and a few T-shirts to the collaboration the two companies have today.

The experience gained through years of production has helped both teams develop the way they work together, while the original idea behind the collection has continued to evolve.

For Tekosom, collaboration goes beyond production. We share knowledge, solve challenges together and help develop garments from idea to finished product.

Eight years after that first meeting, the partnership continues to grow. The logos have thankfully been sorted out since 2018, and the booth probably has a little less empty space these days too. The partnership, however, is still going strong.

Read more about the partnership and what Lagoped has to say about working with Tekosom on our Collaborations page.