What itailan sports apparel company was founded in 1959

Ellesse was founded by Leonardo Servadio in 1959 in Perugia, Italy. The name of the company comes from the initials of Servadio’s name, L and S (elle-esse). In the 1970s Ellesse revolutionized ski wear with the “Jet Pant”, a ski trouser with padded knees and a figure hugging cut. From the 1980s to the present the company has stood out with its exclusive tennis and casual apparel.

Celebrities who have endorsed Ellesse clothing include Formula 1 driver Alain Prost, skiers Marc Girardelli and Jean-Luc Cretier, and tennis players Anna Kournikova, Arantxa Sanchez, Boris Becker, Guillermo Vilas, and Chris Evert.

Ellesse is making headlines with its one-of-a-kind 2012 summer sportswear which includes “polo shirts that are part of a joint effort with Piaggio motors for their anniversary collection.”