Fila and Rowing Blazers’ second collaboration merges the former’s history in winter sports with the latter’s penchant for reimagining preppy style.
Arriving as the looming danger of the coronavirus pandemic prompts leaders throughout Europe to close ski resorts over the holiday season, the Rowing Blazers x Fila Ski collection offers wearers a chance to look the part, even if they don’t manage to hit the slopes this winter.
The collection features two footwear silhouettes—a sneaker and a boot—as well as a ski jacket, ski pants, half-zip jacket fleece, T-shirt, rugby polo, goggles and two hats. The collection is available now at Rowing Blazers and Fila’s websites with prices ranging from $30 to $268.
“From its Alpine origins, Fila became closely associated with a golden age of Italian skiing in the early ’90s when its athletes dominated the sport with their performance, personality, and sense of style,” Rowing Blazers founder Jack Carlson said in a statement. “Fila’s quality and attention to detail are second-to-none, and we’ve worked together to create an outerwear and apparel capsule that you’ll be able to wear for years, on the slopes in Cortina or on the streets in SoHo.”
Inspired by Fila’s heritage in trail and outdoor product, the Fila Expeditioner x Rowing Blazers sneaker features leathers, mesh, corded laces and reflective details, as well as the company’s “Energized” cushioning for comfort and performance. Suitable for any climate, the new all-terrain bottom “ensures great traction,” Fila said. The sockliner design ties back to the ski theme and additional design details include Rowing Blazers’ colorful crochet stripe detailing on the heel, a dual-branded quarter and sockliner logo, and Rowing Blazers branding on the tongue.
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The Fila Fixture x Rowing Blazers, revived from Fila’s ‘90s archives of outdoor boots to create this updated version, is also suitable for any climate. The boots feature suede, leather, textile and reflective details, as well as a rugged outsole with prominent lug design. The same padded sockliner design from the Expeditioner is found in this silhouette, again tying back to the ski theme. Rowing Blazers’ signature croquet stripe detailing on the quarter and a dual-branded sockliner logo round out the design.
The ski jacket and ski pants, both polyfill, ensure warmth for the cold weather. The jacket is water repellent while the pants feature adjustable shoulder straps and waistband and a removable bib. The half-zip jacket fleece offers a detachable hood, front pouch pocket, two front zip pockets and a halfway side zipper. The T-shirt and rugby polo, paying homage to both brands’ Italian roots, carry a quote in Italian that translates to “Rowing Blazers and Fila work in the sport world in seven different and fundamental areas: rugby, tennis, golf, sea/water, fitness and mountains.”
The collection features a vibrant color palette of blue, green, purple, yellow and magenta, with hints of each brand’s signature colors: red, white and navy. All of the items within the capsule include a dual-branded patch logo and are decorated with elements like the zig-zag pattern synonymous with the Rowing Blazers brand.
Fila and Rowing Blazers’ ski collection follows the June launch of the pair’s first collaboration, a limited-edition, seven-piece capsule that fused streetwear designs with preppy style across jackets, joggers, a polo shirt, shorts and a tennis shoe.
The Rowing Blazers collaboration is not the only winter collection Fila has debuted this season. Seen modeled by K-pop sensation BTS, the military-inspired Project 7 capsule features four footwear styles, a mix of cold-weather wear and layer pieces—including fleece zip-ups, parkas, quilted jackets and hoodies—and a selection of accessories.