Founded in 1959 in Perugia, Italy, Ellesse was the leader in classic
sportswear, worn by Tennis legends John Lloyd and Guillermo Vilas,
giving the brand it’s glamourous reputation. The strong Italian roots
still remain, with the iconic polo shirts, classic zipper track tops and
traditional tennis shorts and slipovers, worn by everyone from the
Paninaro elite of Milan, to the Terrace Casuals and Firms of Classic
80’s Britain. Ellesse Heritage collection remains elegant and timeless.
In the early 90'ellesse signed an unknown 9 year old named Anna Kournikova. Who would have guessed she would end up being the sexiest female in the world voted by FHM in 2002!
Guillermo Villas rocked ellesse on and off the tennis court in the 80's. The iconic 'five stripe' polo top was made famous by playboy Villas during his much publicised affair with Princess Caroline of Monaco. The ellesse playboy reputation was heightened when John Lloyd wore ellesse in 1983 with the British Tennis team. Playboy Lloyd went onto marry the World Number 1 women's player Chris Evert.
In the mid 80's ellesse collaborated with French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. This was ground breaking stuff as it was the first time a sportswear label and haute couture brand had worked together. As ground breaking facts go the collaboration between Valentino and ellesse in later years is pretty impressive.
Nick Love's 2006 neo-gangsta film 'The Business'
featured ellesse heavily. It was a hefty reminder of the 80s casual
style and brought back the infatuation of branded sportswear that
everyone loves!
ellesse yet again sparked love amongst consumers when
a heritage track top was seen in Nick Love's 2009 'Casuals' classic
film "The Firm". A scene where a young casual reasons with his father
that he needs the most expensive track-top in the store (an ellesse
Villas) because "it's what all the chaps are wearing" indicates just
how sought after this product was and still is! This zip through is
being re-issued in the UK this year.
