FILA has always been style-centered. When the company was founded in 1911 in Biella, Italy, it focused on making clothing for the people of the Italian Alps. FILA’s broad association with the world of athletics, fashion, and urban style started in 1971, when the company hired designer Pierluigi Rolando.
Worn by Legends
Rolando’s designs, including the now-iconic split-F logo, attracted athletes like tennis great Björn Borg. FILA soon became a popular label in the world of international sports — not just with the athletes themselves, but also with their fans.
FILA’s sleek, sporty styling continued to influence fashion not just in athletic footwear and apparel, but they also gained favor with the salon set and on the street. The brand gained widespread appeal in the hip-hop world. Classic styles like the FILA tracksuit were adopted by new-school rappers as a signature look, which increased FILA’s influence and highlighted its versatility.
Dress Up or Down
FILA was predominant among several boutique brands that crossed the divide between uptown and downtown, with young adults sporting high-ticket athletic apparel as a sign of sophistication — but with no loss of street cred. The brand, long associated with the worlds of European sport and luxury, gained momentum as it became fixed in hip-hop culture, where it served as a symbol of street-smart style.
Don't Call It a Comeback
FILA's popularity continues today, with shoes like the updated Disruptor II, a style that honors the original Disruptor of the mid-’90s. This re-release not only paid homage to the brand's roots but solidified FILA as a trendsetter that dominates today's street style.
Suited for All Styles
FILA still merges street style and high fashion, appearing on runways in Paris, Milan, and Tokyo. Which is shown in the FILA X VFILES collab. Whether FILA appears on the red clay courts of the French Open or on the L train from Midtown to Bushwick, the brand’s enduring but always fresh style continues to turn heads and make a statement.
