Courting fashion

Marion Bartoli’s love for tennis knows no bounds, but in this case, she needn’t worry about a penalty.

The former Wimbledon champ recently collaborated with sports manufacturing company FILA to launch Love FILA by Marion Bartoli, a limited-edition tennis collection that features court-ready clothing, including dresses, blazers, skirts, skorts, pants, tank tops and bomber jackets.

“I truly put all of my past experiences and who I am into this collection,” Bartoli has said. “I want every woman who wears Love FILA to feel strong and beautiful.”

Bartoli, a Frenchwoman of Corsican descent, began playing tennis at age 5, going on to a successful career propelled by her intensity and unusual two-handed forehand. In addition to her 2013 Wimbledon women’s singles win — making her only the sixth player in the Open Era to take the championship without dropping a set — she earned eight Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles titles as well as a career-high ranking of seventh on the tour.

But in addition to her love for tennis, Bartoli has always been interested in fashion, sketching clothes early on. Following her retirement in 2013, she saw the opportunity for a new venture. Bartoli enrolled as a full-time student at Central Saint Martins, a prestigious art and design school in London, and has since created clothing, footwear and handbags, along with an eponymous jewelry line.

And while she no longer plays tennis, she is still active in the sport, offering her insights as a TV commentator.

Love FILA is personal to Bartoli, drawing inspiration from her biography, incorporating characteristics of her birthplace, Paris; FILA’s Italian origins; and England, the site of her greatest athletic triumph.

“To have my name next to the FILA name is incredible and I am grateful for this amazing opportunity,” she has said. “We bring out the best in each other and our shared passion for sport and style is evident in the line.”

All of the line’s pieces, actually two collections, incorporate a dynasty green that enable them to be mixed and matched. The Court Central Collection is attention-grabbing, featuring a palette of turquoise, tangerine and bubble-gum pink, along with graphic prints and the Italian-themed Court Central Collection dress, a watercolor design by Bartoli herself ($220). The six-piece, all-white Trophee Collection is delicate, with subtle details, including mesh inserts and a flouncy, feminine hem.

But all of the pieces — which debuted at the French Open (Court Central) and Wimbledon (Trophee) — offer style, on and off the court.

For more, visit fila.com

More from Danielle Renda
Feel Derek Jeter at bat
Tech fashion is hot, hot, hot. Women’s Wear Daily recently noted how...
Read More
Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *