Tecnifibre

Tecnifibre is a French sporting-goods brand focused primarily on tennis and squash equipment. Founded in 1979 by Thierry Maissant, the company first established its reputation through string technology rather than through a broad hardware portfolio. Its expertise has been particularly associated with multifilament strings and the PU400 Inside technology, which became an important part of the brand’s technical identity. This specialization gave Tecnifibre a foothold among competitive players and helped it build an international presence in racquet sports. The company expanded beyond strings in 2004, when it introduced its own range of competitive tennis racquets. Since then, its portfolio has grown to include tennis racquets, padel racquets, squash racquets, strings, bags, apparel and other accessories. Tennis racquet families include the T-Fight ISO, T-Fight RS, TF40, TF-X1 and Tempo lines. The brand also maintains a substantial squash business, with Carboflex, Suprem, Dynergy and Slash racquet families. Its string range spans polyester constructions such as Black Code, Ice Code, Razor Code and Pro Red Code, as well as multifilament products including NRG2, X-One Biphase, Multifeel and HDX Tour. Hybrid products such as Duramix HD and Triax extend the offer to players seeking combinations of durability, comfort and control. Tecnifibre’s brand positioning is centered on technical performance, player-oriented product development and specialization in racquet sports. The company serves both high-level competitors and broader recreational markets, with products differentiated by playing characteristics, construction, weight and intended discipline. Its activity in squash is notable because the brand operates across both tennis and squash rather than treating squash as a minor accessory category. It has also expanded into padel with the Wall Breaker, Wall Master and Curva families. In 2017, Lacoste announced the acquisition of an 80 percent stake in Major Sports, the company associated with Tecnifibre. The transaction was completed on 1 October 2017, making Lacoste the owner of Tecnifibre. The change placed the brand within the Lacoste group while preserving its identity as a specialist racquet-sports business. In 2024, Tecnifibre introduced X-Loop products, described as the first T-shirt made from recycled tennis strings. This initiative connected product innovation with material reuse and gave the brand a visible sustainability-related extension beyond conventional equipment. Tecnifibre remains an active international brand whose principal business is the development and sale of equipment and accessories for tennis, squash and padel. Its history combines early string expertise, later racquet development, a broadening into apparel and accessories, and ownership under Lacoste.

Tecnifibre was established in France in 1979 by Thierry Maissant. The brand’s early development was closely tied to tennis-string engineering. Rather than beginning as a general sporting-goods company, it gained recognition through specialized string products, particularly multifilament constructions incorporating PU400 Inside technology. This technical foundation shaped the company’s subsequent reputation in competitive racquet sports. The brand later broadened its scope. In 2004, Tecnifibre introduced its own tennis-racquet range aimed at competitive players, marking a significant move from component technology into complete equipment. Its tennis portfolio subsequently developed into several families serving different performance preferences, including the T-Fight, TF40, TF-X1 and Tempo ranges. Some product families have evolved over time; the TF-X1 was previously known as T-Flash, while Tempo was previously known as T-Rebound. Tecnifibre also developed a substantial presence in squash. Its squash portfolio includes the Carboflex, Suprem, Dynergy and Slash families, offered in multiple weight configurations. Alongside racquets, the company continued to expand its tennis-string business across polyester, multifilament and hybrid categories. This product structure allowed Tecnifibre to address demands for control, spin, power, comfort and durability through different constructions rather than relying on a single flagship technology. The company’s activity expanded further into padel through Wall Breaker, Wall Master and Curva racquet lines. Bags, apparel and other accessories complemented the core equipment business. Through this broader range, Tecnifibre developed from a string specialist into a multi-category racquet-sports brand while retaining a strong technical association with strings. A major ownership change occurred in 2017. Lacoste announced on 31 August that it would acquire an 80 percent stake in Major Sports. The transaction was completed on 1 October, making Lacoste the owner of Tecnifibre. Tecnifibre continued to operate as a specialist brand within the Lacoste ownership structure, with its own focus on tennis, squash and related equipment. In 2024, Tecnifibre introduced X-Loop products, including a T-shirt made from recycled tennis strings. The initiative represented an extension of the company’s string expertise into product reuse and apparel. It also connected the brand’s longstanding technical identity with a more visible materials and circularity proposition. Today, Tecnifibre is an active French racquet-sports brand with international operations. Its business covers tennis, squash and padel racquets, tennis strings, bags, apparel and accessories. The brand’s historical trajectory is defined by string specialization, expansion into competitive racquets, development of a strong squash presence, ownership by Lacoste and continued experimentation with products such as recycled-string apparel.

• 2024

  X-Loop recycled-string range

  [1]Tecnifibreen.wikipedia.org

  Tecnifibre introduced X-Loop products, including a T-shirt made using recycled tennis strings.

• 2017

  Lacoste announces majority acquisition

  [1]Tecnifibreen.wikipedia.org

  Lacoste announced an agreement to acquire an 80 percent stake in Major Sports, the company associated with Tecnifibre.

• 2017

  Tecnifibre enters Lacoste ownership

  [1]Tecnifibreen.wikipedia.org

  The acquisition was completed on 1 October, making Lacoste the owner of Tecnifibre.

• 2004

  Launch of competitive tennis racquets

  [1]Tecnifibreen.wikipedia.org

  Tecnifibre introduced its own tennis-racquet range for competitive players, expanding beyond its established string business.

• 1979

  Tecnifibre is founded

  [1]Tecnifibreen.wikipedia.org

  Thierry Maissant founded Tecnifibre in France, beginning the brand’s development in racquet-sports equipment.

A specialist, performance-oriented racquet-sports brand built around string technology, competitive racquets and equipment for tennis, squash and padel.

• Tennis racquets

  T-Fight ISO

  A Tecnifibre tennis-racquet family positioned within the brand’s competitive-performance range. It represents the company’s continuing focus on player-oriented racquet design following its expansion into racquets in 2004.

• Tennis racquets

  TF40

  A tennis-racquet family in Tecnifibre’s performance portfolio. The line forms part of the brand’s modern racquet offering alongside T-Fight ISO, TF-X1 and Tempo.

• Tennis racquets

  TF-X1

  A Tecnifibre tennis-racquet family formerly known as T-Flash. It is part of the brand’s broad tennis range and reflects the evolution of Tecnifibre’s naming and racquet portfolio.

• Tennis racquets

  Tempo

  A Tecnifibre tennis-racquet family formerly known as T-Rebound. It extends the company’s racquet range with a distinct product family within its tennis offering.

• Padel racquets

  Wall Breaker, Wall Master and Curva

  Tecnifibre’s padel-racquet families. Together they represent the brand’s expansion from tennis and squash into padel equipment.

• Squash racquets

  Carboflex, Suprem, Dynergy and Slash

  Tecnifibre’s principal squash-racquet families. The ranges include models in several weights, including configurations from approximately 120 to 135 grams depending on the family.

• Polyester tennis strings

  Black Code, Black Code 4S, Ice Code, Razor Code, Pro Red Code and Pro Red Code Wax

  A group of Tecnifibre polyester string products designed for different combinations of spin, control, response and durability. They form a central part of the brand’s long-standing string expertise.

• Multifilament tennis strings

  NRG2, X-One Biphase, Multifeel and HDX Tour

  Tecnifibre multifilament strings associated with the company’s historical specialization in string technology. These products extend the range toward comfort, feel and responsive performance.

• Hybrid tennis strings

  Duramix HD and Triax

  Hybrid string products in Tecnifibre’s tennis portfolio. They provide alternatives to fully polyester or fully multifilament setups for players seeking a balance of performance characteristics.

• Apparel · 2024

  X-Loop

  A product range introduced in 2024 that includes apparel made from recycled tennis strings. X-Loop connects Tecnifibre’s string expertise with material reuse and sustainability-oriented product development.

• 2024

  Introduction of X-Loop recycled-string productsProduct launch

  Background

  Tecnifibre sought to extend its string expertise into a product using recovered tennis-string material.

  Action taken

  The company introduced the X-Loop range, including a T-shirt made from recycled tennis strings.

  Aftermath

  The initiative broadened Tecnifibre’s product story into apparel and material reuse.

  Source

• 2017

  Lacoste acquires Tecnifibre through Major SportsM&A

  Background

  Lacoste announced plans to acquire a majority stake in Major Sports, the company associated with Tecnifibre.

  Action taken

  Lacoste acquired an 80 percent stake, with completion taking place on 1 October 2017.

  Aftermath

  Tecnifibre became owned by Lacoste while continuing as a specialist racquet-sports brand.

  Source

• 2004

  Launch of Tecnifibre tennis racquetsProduct launch

  Background

  Tecnifibre had established recognition through tennis-string expertise and decided to broaden its equipment business.

  Action taken

  The company launched its own tennis-racquet range aimed at competitive players.

  Aftermath

  The launch established racquets as a major part of the brand’s portfolio alongside strings.

  Source

• 2024

  Tecnifibre introduces X-Loop recycled-string apparel[1]Tecnifibreen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  Tecnifibre launched the X-Loop range, including a T-shirt made from recycled tennis strings.

• 2017

  Lacoste announces acquisition of majority stake in Major Sports[1]Tecnifibreen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Lacoste announced that it would acquire an 80 percent stake in Major Sports, the company associated with Tecnifibre.

• 2017

  Lacoste becomes owner of Tecnifibre[1]Tecnifibreen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The acquisition of the majority stake in Major Sports was completed on 1 October, bringing Tecnifibre under Lacoste ownership.

1. 1Tecnifibreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The St. James makes brand partnerships with TaylorMade and Tecnifibrenorthernvirginiamag.com