ellesse

ellesse is a sportswear company founded in Italy in 1959, producing apparel, footwear and accessories. It has been owned by British Pentland Group since 1987. The founder of the brand, Leonardo Servadio was an avid skiing fan, but he couldn't find the right skiwear so he decided to make his own. Originally an Italian taylor, Leonardo's mission was to break the boundaries between fashion and sport. The brand began by manufacturing the skiwear that Leonardo had envisioned. Pioneering the innovative 'Jet Pant', Ellesse created a new ski trouser concept where the leg fit above the ski boot. Following this they created the quilted jacket, which became the new staple for the skiing crowd. Ellesse had such a reputation for quality winter sports gear that it was easy to move into tennis apparel and gain a following.