Collaboration produces world’s first tailored tracksuit

Huddersfield-based tailors Owen Scott Bespoke has collaborated with sports fashion brand Ellesse to produce a one-of-a-kind, smart-casual tailored tracksuit which can be worn in the boardroom or a bar – or even on the football pitch sidelines.

Scott Hufton founded Owen Scott Bespoke in 2010 and has established a name for the brand making bespoke suits for both businesspeople and sports stars. He names Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Anthony Crolla as some of his clients, and his signature orange detailing, and scissor lapel pin have been seen on TV screens around the world.

Having witnessed the success of the brand, Ellesse’s commercial team approached Scott in 2020 about a collaboration – and he offered to design and produce a smart-casual suit which wouldn’t go amiss in any working environment, or even a sports pitch.

The result is a collection which combines the ease, comfort, and convenience of wearing a tracksuit with the sharp style of a suit.

The collection – named Sarto Collezione – is cut from high-quality Italian stretch fabric in navy blue, with an orange half lined jacket, tulip pockets and orange collar detailing. But this is where tradition ends and unique casual styling begins, with a muscle fit to the product, ribbed wrist and ankle cuffs, a stretch drawstring waist on the trousers and the removable gilet that provides a fashion-forward alternative to a formal shirt. It is also crease-resistant.

It has been designed with the ‘Work from Anywhere’ working arrangement in mind. A recent survey by the world economic forum found that two-thirds of people around the world still want to work flexibly when the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

The suit lends itself perfectly as a commuting outfit to wear on a train, to jump into boardroom meetings or to afterwork drinks at a bar. The ribbed cuffs also make cycling to work easier, as the sleeves can’t be caught on the bar handles.

With his connections in the world of sport, Scott added the zip-in gilet as a nod to the football manager style and it has already been worn by Gary Neville.

Able to be worn flexibly as a three piece, with or without the gilet, and with trainers to match, Scott believes it is the style of the future.

He said: “During the pandemic, many of us became accustomed to a more comfortable, casual look, but not everyone wants to drop the suit entirely, so this hybrid suit offers the best of both worlds. It’s a suit for men who believe that casual is a concept that’s open to personal interpretation, rather than a stylist’s rule book. It’s a statement look that re-invents the idea of ‘smart casual’ for the 2020s, bringing two classic styles together to create something truly unique and extraordinary.

“Something that many people don’t realise is that Leonardo Servadio, the founder of Ellesse, was an Italian tailor who brought a tailoring edge to sportswear, so it feels very fitting.”

Scott remembers wearing Ellesse as a teenager and never dreamed he would be working with them to create such a fashion first.

“My baby blue Ellesse polo was my favourite item in my wardrobe for a couple of years as a teen. So, it’s a real honour for me to have been approached by the team for this suit – which really hasn’t been done before.”