Ellesse
Tennis ball meets ski tips: an Italian ski brand before it was a tennis brand.
The story
Ellesse was founded in 1959 in Perugia, Italy, by tailor and ski enthusiast Leonardo Servadio. The name comes from his initials, L.S.1,4 It started with ski trousers, padded jackets and knitwear; tennis came later.1
The logo
The semi-palla logo is half a tennis ball between two ski tips, and Ellesse was one of the early brands to put its logo on the outside of the garment.2,6 Sources disagree on exactly when it arrived, so be wary of anyone dating a piece from the logo alone.6,7
The Jet Pant
Ellesse's 1970s Jet Pant had padded knees, an elastic back and internal gaiters, and was shown at the Pompidou Centre in 1979.1,5
Made in Japan
Goldwin set up a company in 1976 to make Ellesse skiwear under licence in Japan.3 That is why many of the best vintage Ellesse ski jackets say "Made in Japan": they are a distinct, well-made sub-niche.
Buying vintage Ellesse
- 80s and 90s colours (orange, pink, purple, teal) are the most wanted.
- Some 80s styles have been reissued. Check the care label: reissues are modern.
- Japan-market pieces use Japanese sizing, which runs small. Go by the measurements in cm.