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Fila Today sponsored by www.80scasualclassics.co.uk style consultants to The Firm and This is England and sellers and lovers of Fila Vintage.

Fila vintage - bring back the Settanta mk1 track top and wham Fila 5 stripe track tops

2010 sees Fila remake The classic bjorn borg Fila Settanta mk1 Track top- past releases docmented below were called The Fila Matchday track top and whilst hugely succesful had some detail errors compared with the classic. The originals always had Navy Zips on key colours like The Fila Settanta in the holy grail Kelly Green and The infamous Borg Red and under arms had no stripe detail and the side panel was slimmer and less stripes than the matchday. The good news is its back and on all accounts still Filas best selling retro line

Another classic back in its 80s fabric is the Fila Five Stripe as worn by the likes of Wham and with major exposure from Tamer Hussan in The Business Golf scene. A popular seller In colours of French Blue (royal), Red both with white detail and The white/ navy. The Fila Five stripe Track Top is seen in all colours in The Firm

A huge success story and best selling fila revival polo has been The Fila Match Polo a style born from a Polo shirt worn by Bjorn Borg. Fila keep on producing variations of the Fila Match Polo Shirt in White and Navy with fresh seasonal injection colours incl Grey, lemon, Sky, Green and Red- the success of this great look Polo shirt has seen Fila make its way into the Uks elite retaillers - just like its 80s heyday. How long can the Fila Vintage secret last !!

 The Fila Match Polo in white.   

Another new line being talks about is the Fila Club Biella range influence bsing 70s era French Italian Riviera lifestyle affluent dressing picked up massively by the 80s casuals the monied look as it has been phrased. Recent Times ex casual and Fila fan Nick Love has been seen strutting with the class wearable look arguably born from casual- pink , lemon, white, navy and grey are all key to the look of the Fila Club Biella 

Fila Vintage -­ White Line & White Rock 2009-10 - see The Firm for up to date 2010 release  images

2009-10 has seen Fila re-release some classic track tops , the biggest most talked about has to be the Fila Settanta Mk3 bj track top also known as the Fila Terrinda the last in a serious of 3 Fila settanta sponsor tops worn by Bjorn Borg. The new Fila terrinda was appropriately timed to coincide with the release of Nick Loves film The Firm. For many people this is the ultimate track top, The £1000 ebay collectors piece of 2006-08. It took Fila some years to track down a true modern day fabric equivalent and is available in its 80s casual classic  colours. The remakes have had the worldwide seal of approval from top Fila collectors as a spot on remake to an 80s original and even featured alongside original tops in The Nick Love film The Firm. In 2009 the Fila Terrinda was made available in Navy, Kelly Green and Red only on sale through www.80scasualclassics.co.uk who also supplied major wardrobe to The Firm including many original Terrindas and possibly the biggest vintage Fila collection. The popular French Blue and White Fila Terrinda jackets are set to arrive in 2010 with talk of the very rare 80s yellow appearing late summer 2010.

The love track is also another remake that has been brought back in 2009. This could be one of the best polyester tracks that have been reissued and again features heavily in The Firm remake. This track had originally been selected by the director himself, Nick Love, to feature in the film with Fila then introducing it to their product range for 09.

 

The Vilas track, now called court, after Guillermo Vilas the face of fila tennis pre borg and the only other sports athlete to once have the signature badge as with the Borg Bj. In the late 70s borg took the crown and soon became the key fila sponsor/figurehead for many vilas tracks. This track became very popular when released in early 2009 after being seen on Danny Dyer in The Business shop scene.

 

Fila Tiebreak track is a popular 80s early borg McEnroe style track top re-issued back in 2006 and back with a terraces funnel neck collar in a non sheen polyester fabric, closer to the Sergio Tacchini McEnroe dallas track. This top features heavily in The Firm in a few popular 80s colours.

The Fila Vintage Spin jacket in Cream/Navy/Red, see shot to left, also features in heavily in The Firm with a low neck collar and was released in 2006. The 2009 re-issue with funnel neck collars more suited to UK football terraces was deemed a very popular polyester best seller as just £55. Available in Navy/Ocean/Cream, see right, and Red/Navy/Cream.

Part of the Fila ski wear in the white rock collection are these 2 jumpers. The Siro as pictured on the left and the Meazza, pictured right. The Siro appears in four to five colours throughout The Firm. As pictured in both shots these can be worn with Fila roll necks, which are all also available to buy through www.80scasualclassics.co.uk who has kindly supplied images and information for the today page

 

Fila 2006-2008 the return of Fila Vintage post THe Business

Early 2006 Fila re-appeared with a brand in the UK “Fila Vintage- White Line” a return to the styles associated with what many know as the “Simple Square F Badge” from the recognised Borg 80s Casuals era. On all accounts it was pure coincidence that a cult like DVD release The Business directed by Nick Love was to hit the stores. The Business DVD arrived on the shelves January 2006 giving a massive nod to glamorise the 80s Casuals with Fila, Tacchini, Ellesse, Diadora, Lois etc etc. Key Borg and Mcenroe casual styles were on parade like a late 70s early 80s centre court show. Fila Vintage styles appeared in March 2006 in very few UK stores which saw certain stockist sell out fast. While many casual collectors had already been buying real vintage Borg bj Settanta jackets at £500+ Danny Dyer wearing two navy variations simply fuelled this even further and whilst Fila vintage did not revist this style until 2007 prices continued to soar on Ebay.

Sergio Tacchini by contrast had gained early links with the film with all key styles arriving in stores throughout 2006. Fila set about launching many early day 70s styles associated with the white line era without matching key film styles. However by 2007 / 08 this may have been marketing genius or a fluke, Unlike Tacchini with Fila there has always been an original key track style unreleased fetching unbelievable sums on Ebay and then fuelling great re-release demand. Fila is still a love affair brand for many buyers just like it was 70s-80s with now many new modern day collectors who can now afford to collect. Below are some highlights of the 2006 story so far:

2006 ­ Fila Vintage commenced their comeback March 2006

Fila white line early days pre Settanta style wool mix 70s jacket and classic 80s polyester. A style worn prior to the Borg bj deal by both Bjorn Borg and John Mcenroe

Early 80s Polyester jacket with small classic Fila low nero collars in classic Fila colours. All early 2006 Fila styles were very small and short fitting remaining true to their original 70-80s fits when trousers were generally all worn Cowell style.

Grand Slam - In the winter of 2006 came the release of the Grand slam track tops in navy, white and red. The first funnel neck collar track top associated with the terraces aided the success. Fila’s precision to remain true to small fitting originals saw the XL and XXL sell out fast hitting maximum prices on Ebay with little hope of anyone above 42 chest owning one.

Oliza Track Jacket - terry towelling track very true to the original. With much talk of when Fila might re-release key velour tracks this was undoubtedly the next best thing and 3 track colours were huge successes and seen as a more generous fit track top.

The Settanta Borg 1 BJ Jacket - known as the Matchday. The real arrival of Fila vintage came late 2006 ­ 2 key styles as worn in The Business arrived by now many film lovers and ex casuals had been on the look for classic Borg and Vilas tracks. The classic Bjorn Borg Fila Bj Settanta Mk1 known today as the Matchday jacket a wool mix jacket short in the body like a knitted zip thru sweatshirt. Whilst worn by Danny Dyer in Navy in The Business and regular yearly reminders of Borg wearing red on Wimbledon footage. This was to become the re-issue track to re-establish Fila in the market and soon sold out across the UK.

An advertising campaign “adored by many, worn by few” saw ltd editions styles sell out and the ebay craze continued as demand could still not been met, by now modern day remakes were already seen as collectables that will more than hold their value.

A popular 70’s collars Guillermo Vilas track jacket also highlighted by Danny Dyer in The Business sports store scene showed its retro fit 70s credentials.

Mivvi Vilas Polos Fila also key styles worn by Guillermo Vilas

The success of the Settanta / Matchday track jacket has seen it permanently feature in the Fila Vintage white line range by early 2007 an even better modern day fit re-working arrived with a new larger Zip Fob true to the originals and was generally bigger than a Mk1 Settanta issues of 2006.

The most sort after 80s Settanta track top the elusive Kelly Green had been name dropped in recent times as the holy grail along with the Terrinda by the likes of Nick Love and Tim Lovejoy along with a whole host of casual connoisseurs eventually got its re-release, whilst limited to around 400 it sold out so fast that Fila brought it back again in October 2007 and March 2008.

The success of the Fila Green is an indication of the love affair people have for a brand with unique design and appeal and re-iterates what a legend Bjorn Borg had been possibly even more so than a modern day Beckham in his association with Fila and a very distinct look.

Fila Vintage by now was re-inventing the brand and seizing opportunities in the modern day. Online stores and Ebay shops began to emerge dedicated to the 80s casuals revival and the success of Fila showed when UK stocks were low prices soared. The casual re-emergence saw Diadora release the famous Borg elite kangaroo leather trainer that was a big part of the Borg and 80s casual attire.

Borg matchday jackets revisited and new twists.

Fila 2008 with Danny Dyer and Tamer Hussan flying the Fila flag gave reminders to key as worn in The Business styles are apparent.

Hot on the heels of the Matchday success the most discussed comeback Fila Vintage release of recent 2008 history is the 4 Stripe Track Jacket and the 4 Stripe Rain Jacket hitting the shops March 2008 with some major success. The Jacket was similar to the red golf scene (Tamar The Business) and red tracks worn by Wham. Danny Dyer taking to Soccer AM in the navy / red 4 stripe saw the UK sell-out in days another mark of what Fila Vintage can achieve with exposure. A long awaited red release is set to hit select UK stockists August 2008 watch this space.

An example of other Fila items to feature from 2006Š.to now

Borg polos ­ Classic Settanta BB1 stripe / Solicio Mk2, Trezzan (window-pane) & Mancini.

Fila Tank tops - The Binaco and Mivvi Vilas.

Fila Dibello Wool Mix Track top - 2007

The Varissa velour ­ a first for the fabric in 2007

The Ricishie - an accurate take on an early eighties style

Fila Vintage ­ White Rock Popular Roma Knit and Cesar Jacket from 2007. Two extremely popular styles part of the Danny and Tamar Fila ad campaigns.

Cantetta (Settanta) Short - last but by no means least the biggest single demand success story of 2008. In 2007 the uk orders were not sufficient to see the styles get re-released. Vintage 80s originals largely arriving from overseas Ebayers fetched £60-80 with perished elastic, grass stains etc etc. In 2008 a very limited release saw both the check and white shorts selling out by May 2008. Like the Kelly Green Matchday the shorts success clearly miles away from modern day short fits is a mark of what Fila vintage means and without doubt the effect The Business had in wearing such items with style and confidence.