ellesse – A company history
FOUNDED 1959
In 1959, Leonardo Servadio founded ellesse in Perugia, Italy. The name is taken from her initials L&S – pronounced elle-esse.
In the early days, important decisions were made during a game of table tennis. Leonardo Servadio and Franco D’Attoma, Leonardo’s brother-in-law, would play with the winner, managing to put their idea into practice.
COMPANY PETS
Etore and Giorgina were the mascots of the ellesse company. We’re not talking cats or dogs here, these two were penguins! Etore and Giorgina would show up and hit the slopes at most ski tournaments, but sadly, when they started destroying Leonardo Servadio’s garden, they were donated to the Verona Zoo.
PUBLICATIONS
In 1973, Vogue magazine in Italy featured the ellesse “Curieuse” and labeled them “the sexiest possibility for summer.” These wonderful pants were loose and open on the sides and pulled on like a sarong with a bra! You can still see the sample of the “Curieuse” in the museum of Perugia. Wear this on the beach and be admired by everyone.
WORN BY WINNERS
An unknown tennis player at the time, named Boris Becker, signed with ellesse at the age of just 15. He was considered to have outstanding potential and this was true, Becker went on to win Wimbledon in 1985 and 1986 wearing none other than ellesse. .
In the early ’90s, ellesse signed a 9-year-old unknown named Anna Kournikova.
Who would have thought that she would end up being the sexiest woman in the world, voted by FHM in 2002!
FILMS
Nick Love’s 2006 neo-gangsta film ‘The Business’ featured Ellesse heavily. It was a strong reminder of the casual style of the 80’s and brought back the infatuation with name brand sportswear that everyone loves! Ellesse once again sparked love among the people when she was seen wearing a traditional T-shirt in Nick Love’s 2009 classic “Casuals” movie “The Firm”. A scene in which a casual young man reasons with his father that he must have the most expensive sports shirt in the store (an Ellesse Villas) because “it’s what all the boys are wearing” signifies how sought after this product was and even now. . is!
50 YEARS OLD
Ellesse is 50! In 2009, ellesse celebrated its 50th birthday in Rome, Italy, the home of the brand. ellesse rubbed shoulders with the likes of Lily Cole, Gemma Arterton, Pat Cash, Eley Kishimoto and Jade Jagger. Everyone partied all night listening to NYPC and Crazy P music with cupcakes and champagne!
COLLABORATION
In 2000, ellesse teamed up with Danish label Wood Wood in 2010 to create a High Summer collection consisting of heritage zips, modern sweatshirts, branded tees and chinos, all finished off with lightweight court shoes. The collaboration captures Wood Wood’s Scandinavian style roots combined with ellesse’s ’80s British culture.
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