Fila x Haider Ackermann

Manchester, city of rain, raves, and youth culture. Haider Ackermann selects the Northern British city to hold his latest show and present his one-off debut collection with Fila. The collection includes menswear, womenswear and accessories, as Ackermann explores the various realms of working out, staying loyal to Fila’s core values. From swimwear to athletics, Ackermann masterfully translates his razor-sharp tailoring into precise sporty and technical silhouettes. Models walked down the stark-white catwalk wearing sleek tracksuits, billowing cagoules, micro shorts, leggings, trail shoes, balaclavas, swimming caps and goggles. The collection served as a tribute to Ackermann's clean silhouettes and skills as a colourist playing around with blocked colours and pastels.

A city heavily connected to sportswear and home to popular streetwear brands such as Stone Island, CP Company, and Umbro, big biz and independent spirit are inherent features of the Mancunian youth, there is a longstanding synergy which shapes the uniform and aesthetics of youth subculture. Ackermann himself believes that “Manchester has an intriguing mix of colliding cultures,” as he also says that “It is a place where we hear the voices of the youth – the wave they create in sports, music and literature. And I wanted to focus on this unique point of view.” A city that shines for its hedonistic musical history, the show took place the vast Mayfield Depot – best known for hosting The Warehouse Project, a notorious rave spot.

Fila has a stated mission to pivot its image, the Italian sportswear giant believes that brand momentum can be best achieved via collaborations with key players and personalities of the luxury sector. Previously, the brand has collaborated with the likes of Y/Project, Roksanda Ilinčić, or Brandon Maxwell. Fila chairman Gene Yoon praises Ackermann’s creativity and is fully confident that the collaboration “represents the latest evolution of Fila to be at the forefront in sports, style and fashion.”

Underscoring the current zeitgeist