We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Ellesse Competition! This initiative is dedicated to supporting the next generation of global design talent, offering final-year students opportunities as they step into the world of fashion and design.
The competition challenged students to dive into Ellesse’s rich legacy, values, and Italian heritage, designing a six-outfit collection that redefines tennis apparel and accessories. The aim? To push the boundaries of sportswear innovation for both on and off the court.
After much deliberation, our esteemed panel of judges has selected the top three winners:
1st Place: Seren Still—Bath Spa University
2nd Place: George Light—Nottingham Trent University
3rd Place: Xuanhao Yi—UCA Epsom
A huge congratulations to these outstanding designers! Their innovative approaches to blending tennis apparel with contemporary aesthetics truly impressed our judges:
Ony Nwanokwu is the Senior Content and Community Manager at Ellesse.
"We're really excited, and we've seen some fantastic work from everyone."
Izzy Crew—Designer at Ellesse.
"It's been really incredible to see all of your work; I think everyone should be really proud for entering."
Katie Greenyer—Creative Director at Pentland.
“I have absolutely loved judging the Ellesse Tailors competition. I've seen so many beautiful sketches, innovation, materiality, and real breadth.”
First Place Prize: A paid placement with the Ellesse global team in London, mentorship, and the opportunity to see two of your designs professionally manufactured and showcased on the catwalk at the Graduate Fashion Week Gala show.
Second Place Prize—Mentorship from the Ellesse Team and the opportunity to see one of your designs professionally manufactured and showcased on the catwalk at the Graduate Fashion Week Gala show.
Third Place Prize: The opportunity to see one of your designs professionally manufactured and showcased on the catwalk at the Graduate Fashion Week Gala show.
Plus, all three winners will have their entry showcased at GFW25 from 13th to 16th June 2025 at the Truman Brewery within the exhibition.
To all the talented students who participated, thank you for your creativity, hard work, and passion. Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities as we continue to champion the next generation of designers!