Like many brands with a strong focus on formal attire, Brooks Brothers faced a tough environment a year ago. By July, the more than two-century-old purveyor of classic American apparel had filed for bankruptcy.
A joint partnership between Authentic Brands Group and Simon Property Group bought the struggling business late last summer. Amid the pressures of new ownership, Brooks Brothers decided to pivot into a new territory: athleisure. In just six months, the category’s first items—a half-zip sweatshirt, joggers, drawstring sweatshorts and a zip hoodie—arrived.
Brooks Brothers took another step into the realm of athleticwear Tuesday, launching a broad, tennis-inspired collaborative collection with Fila.
Described as a marriage between Brooks Brothers’ “authentic American style” and the sports apparel and footwear brand’s “iconic tennis heritage,” the limited-edition collection offers a mix of performance and tailored styles.
For men, the lifestyle options include seersucker suiting, graphic and solid polos, button down oxford shirts, matching tracksuits, full-zip jackets, V-neck tennis sweaters and vests, French terry crewnecks and T-shirts. Women’s items include a chunky cable knit tennis sweater dress and a pleated dress. The collaboration also offers an assortment of accessories, ranging from neckties and belts to backpacks, waist bags, headbands and wristbands.
Additionally, the Brooks Brothers x Fila collaboration encompasses a selection of all-white, court-ready styles to be worn by Fila-sponsored tennis players on-court in London. The selection includes performance polos, crewnecks, shorts, blazers, pants and a collared sleeveless dress.
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Two footwear silhouettes complement the collaboration’s apparel collection. The Brooks Brothers x Fila Trigate runner—available in three colorways—features a reflective upper, Fila and Brooks Brothers branding and, on the shoes’ sockliner, a repeated graphic pattern that can be found on the apparel line as well. The Brooks Brothers x Fila Original Tennis LX, a court-inspired low model, also features dual branding and the sockliner graphic, as well as three lacing options that tie back to the clothing collection.
The Brooks Brothers x Fila collection is available for a limited time on both company’s websites, as well as at select Brooks Brothers stores.
Fila’s latest collaboration is not the first time the company has teamed up with a preppier brand. In fact, it launched its second collaboration with Rowing Blazers this past December, offering a half-zip jacket fleece, T-shirt, rugby polo, ski jacket and ski pants.