About ellesse | Italian Sportswear Heritage, Reimagined for the U.S.
“When you look
and feel your best,
you always win.”
Once upon a time
in Perugia…
in Perugia…
In 1959, sportswear was functional and daywear was style-led. Little thought was given to the aesthetic or enjoyment of sports apparel, only to its performance. Leonardo Servadio, a fashionable tailor based in Perugia, found this approach to be lacking. His family were textile merchants with a store in Perugia, and Leonardo learned how to handle cloth from a young age. Perugia is located within easy reach of the Umbrian Apennines, and a young Leonardo developed a love of mountain sports – and a disdain for dull snow-wear. So, he created his own, developing a line of impeccably cut ski trousers, each named after a Dolomite peak.
The success of the style meant a factory in Perugia quickly followed, and an eponymous brand – L&S, his initials – became ellesse. By the 1970s, ellesse had become synonymous with Italian craftsmanship and flair.
“We were the first to pick up on the desire to feel privileged to own a distinctive sign, and wear a designer garment.”
To wear ellesse with its logo was a badge of pride. The brand expanded from ski to tennis, racing, cycling and golf: finding an audience wherever sport was enjoyed in style. ellesse was worn by Wimbledon champions Chris Evert, 1982, and Boris Becker, 1985, World Cup winners, Formula 1 record breakers, and Winter Olympics gold medalists. It symbolized performance wrapped up in pleasure: and the desire to always play in style. Its charismatic attitude extended to campaigns, which were cheeky and distinctive.
By elevating sportswear beyond performance, Leonardo set the template for athleisure and sportswear as we know it today. By wrapping it in aspiration, he unlocked the freedom of effortless clothing and better living. And by adhering strictly to meticulous codes of tailoring and fearlessly innovating, he made great leaps for sports designers, wearers, and players all over the world.
Today’s collection is designed with the same intention—precision in every detail, crafted to move beautifully, and made to bring pleasure to every moment on and off the court.
Discover the collection.
Milestone Moments
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1959
Born in Italy
Leonardo Servadio founds ellesse in his hometown of Perugia, Italy. The name "ellesse" comes from his initials: L.S.
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1968
The Jet Pant
Leonardo is inspired by the bootcut jeans he sees during a trip to London. He returns home and applies the same style to ski trousers – creating the phenomenally successful Jet Pant.
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1974
Expansion into Tennis
ellesse launches its first ever tennis collection, becoming a major style player in the sport.
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1975
Introducing the Semi Palla
The iconic logo featuring a half tennis ball formed from two ski tips is designed. ellesse's brand identity become synonymous with this logo.
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1982
World Winners
Three champions in the sporting world win while wearing ellesse: The Ferrari Formula 1 team, Italy's World Cup team, and Chris Evert at Wimbledon.
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1993
Pentland Group Acquires ellesse
UK-based Pentland Group acquires ellesse after being their main distributor for almost a decade.
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2025
ellesse Sponsors the Cincinatti Open
The Cincinnati Open announced ellesse as its official tennis apparel partner, and as part of the agreement, the brand will be title sponsor of the new ellesse Junior Championships at the Cincinnati Open.
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2026
ellesse Returns to the U.S.
ellesse announces its relaunch in the U.S. market under The Iconic Brand Corporation. The brand's first collection will follow in Spring 2026.
Legends in ellesse
Our Mission
To help our wearers see the bigger game: living a life of pleasure through sport.
Our Values
Perform beautifully.
We believe success is nothing without grace, elegance, flair. Our obsessive craft elevates sportswear. We provide equipment for those who want to perform beautifully.
Play well with others.
We have a generous spirit. We believe sport – as all life – is fundamentally social. We encourage connections, work well with others, and focus on sport as a shared pleasure.
Raise the bar.
We see sport through a uniquely Italian lens, redefining athleticism as self–expression and sportswear as Italian-Designed Performance Tailoring. Performance & luxury, high fashion & high function, elegance & tech, innovation & craft. Inspired by couture as much as competition.
Pursue La Dolce Vita.
In everything we do we unashamedly promote, equip, and inspire the pursuit of The Good Life.
