Ellesse apparel and footwear

Founded in 1959 by Leonardo Servadio in Perugia, Italy, Ellesse began as a pioneer in skiwear and later gained global fame in the professional tennis world. The brand's distinctive 'semi-palla' logo—a combination of a tennis ball and the tips of a pair of skis—symbolizes these core athletic roots. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it became one of the first brands to display its logo on the outside of garments, merging sports functionality with streetwear fashion.

Today, while the brand retains its Italian heritage in design and identity, the global rights are owned by the British company Pentland Group. Manufacturing is decentralized to accommodate global demand, with production facilities primarily located across Asia, including China, Vietnam, and India, as well as Turkey and Egypt for specific textile lines. This allows the brand to maintain its presence in both high-performance sports apparel and the trending retro-sportswear market.