Fila is returning to Milan Fashion Week with a runway show scheduled for Sunday, marking the sportswear brand’s homecoming to the Italian fashion capital. The Fila Milano special collection, designed by industry veteran Alistair Carr, will be unveiled as part of the official Milan Fashion Week calendar, reinforcing the company’s position at the intersection of sports heritage and high fashion.
The timing of Fila’s return to Milan Fashion Week is strategic, following the brand’s prominent presence at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. According to Jeremy Jiang, vice president of marketing at Fila, 2026 is a milestone year as the company celebrates its 115th anniversary. The brand, founded in 1911 in Biella in Italy’s Piedmont region, has been leveraging the Winter Olympics to boost its international profile and sports authority.
Fila Milano Collection Bridges Heritage and Innovation
“Holding a fashion show in Milan is the best way to directly connect our Italian heritage and sports spirit, as a core point of differentiation,” Jiang said. He noted that Fila was the first sports brand enrolled into the Milan Fashion Week main official agenda back in 2018. By returning now, the company aims to continue leading the trend and strengthen its trendsetter position in the athletic fashion space.
The appointment of Alistair Carr as creative director for this occasion signals Fila’s elevated fashion ambitions. Carr, who holds a master’s degree from Central Saint Martins, brings extensive experience from stints at prestigious brands including Pringle of Scotland, Balenciaga, Yeezy and Tory Burch.
Designer Explores Duality and Unexpected Elements
“I have been obsessed with the idea of duality for many years now: minimal with super functional, complex technical construction with effortless shape, heritage fused with innovation,” Carr said in a preview. He promised attendees could “expect something unexpected, Fila but not as you know it” at the upcoming show.
The designer drew inspiration from Milan’s vibrant energy and its blend of modernity and tradition, as well as the city’s mix of lifestyles and generations. Additionally, he looked to mirror Fila’s own hybrid evolution from fabric mill to underwear firm to sports brand by blurring the lines between style and functionality.
“This is where that duality comes in play: high-performance technical fabrics contrasted with luxury sartorial wools, iconic Fila signatures subverted with unexpected fabric choices, perforated leather in place of athletic mesh,” Carr teased. The collection will also feature a play on a classic tennis bracelet as embroidered trim on a series of graphic draped technical crepe dresses.
Collection Features Reimagined Fila Classics
Key looks will include pieces inspired by the distinctive Fila velour track jacket, reimagined in hand-knit with more generous and relaxed volumes. Meanwhile, a draped dress will incorporate nods to the chevron motif that featured on the brand’s first tracksuit designed by Pierluigi Rolando.
Carr revealed that research at the incredible Fila archive in Biella provided numerous ideas. “The challenging part was deciding what to keep for now and what to save for another time,” he said, suggesting potential for future collaborations or collections.
The designer aimed to deliver a cross-functional wardrobe conceived for different moments and occasions, built on accessible silhouettes and staples like Crombie coats, bomber jackets and parkas. However, more unexpected leather pieces such as sleek blazer jackets and pencil skirts will also appear in the lineup, bringing edge and upping the feminine quotient of the coed range.
Neutral Palette With Strategic Color Accents
The color palette will focus on neutral tones of blue, black, khaki green, gray, cream and camel, with bright accents of red and electric blue providing visual interest. In contrast to the restrained color story, the looks will be grounded in flat sneakers as well as color-blocked running or cycling shoes for a visual punch.
The Sunday show will reveal whether Fila’s return to Milan Fashion Week successfully positions the brand as both a sports authority and a credible fashion player. The reception to the Fila Milano collection could determine the company’s future involvement in the fashion week calendar and its broader strategy to elevate its brand positioning beyond traditional athletic wear.
