Vintage FILA has become increasingly popular in recent years, with fashion enthusiasts and sneakerheads alike seeking out the iconic designs of the past. The brand’s history is steeped in sportswear and athletic wear, but it has also made a significant impact on fashion and streetwear.

Founded in 1911 in Italy, FILA began as a textile company before transitioning into the production of sportswear in the 1970s. The brand quickly made a name for itself in the tennis world, sponsoring legendary players such as Bjorn Borg and Ilie Nastase. But it wasn’t just on the court that FILA left its mark – the brand’s bold, colourful designs and bold branding became popular in the world of fashion and streetwear.

With vintage FILA clothing and sneakers becoming increasingly sought-after, it’s no surprise that the brand has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. From the classic FILA Disruptor sneakers to retro tracksuits and T-shirts, vintage FILA pieces have become must-have items for fashionistas and sneakerheads alike. In this blog, we will take a look at the history of the brand and how it has become a fashion icon.

One of the most well-known and iconic sponsorship deals in FILA’s history was with tennis legend Bjorn Borg. The Swedish star wore FILA clothing and shoes on the court during his successful career, which included 11 Grand Slam titles. The partnership between FILA and Borg was so successful that it is credited with helping to establish the brand as a major player in the sportswear market.

Iconic NBA Grant Hill FILA Advert

How to tell if FILA is vintage from the logo

Fila, a company that began with a focus on the tennis industry, has expanded their offerings to include shoes for a variety of sports, including basketball and mountaineering. This diversification ultimately led to their emergence as a popular streetwear brand in the 90s, with both famous musicians and everyday people sporting their oversized sweatshirts.

In contrast to more well-known sportswear brands such as Nike and Adidas, Fila has always had a distinctive style that harkens back to the early 90s. Recently, the brand has experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly within the vintage fashion scene, alongside other 90s brands like Kappa, Diadora, and Champion, which were once considered unfashionable but are now highly sought after at second-hand clothing stores.

The FILA logo is a recognizable and iconic aspect of the brand, but it has not undergone any significant changes over the years. Therefore, it is not necessarily the best way to determine whether a FILA product is vintage or not. While the logo may remain consistent, other factors such as the materials, cuts, and designs used in the production of a piece can indicate whether it is from a certain era or not. Additionally, certain lines or collections, like the aforementioned Magic Line, may have specific identifying characteristics that can help establish its vintage status. Therefore, it’s important to look at a range of factors, rather than just the logo, when assessing the vintage authenticity of a FILA product.

1973 to now

• The first FILA logo was an remains as its current logo
• The F from the logo and the full FILA logo is used interchangeably on designs, however the official logo is the full FILA
• It appears as abstract shapes with the letter corners rounded
• The main colours on the logo are red, blue and white and other colours are also used on designs
• It is quite a realistic depiction of a crocodile, in reference to Rene Lacoste’s nickname
• As you can imagine, printing and sewing this, especially in the early to mid 20th century, was difficult so a more simplistic version would be reverted to on many tags and designs

1973 to now FILA logo

How to tell if FILA is vintage from the neck tags

Fila is best known for their bold designs in clothing items such as polo shirts, sweatshirts, and shoes, and they are not afraid to incorporate bright colours and unconventional silhouettes into their collections. This fearless approach to design is what has brought the company back into the mainstream, leading to collaborations with notable brands and designers such as Odd Future, Urban Outfitters, Fendy, and even Pepsi.

FILA has a reputation for consistently producing streetwear and urban fashion styles. This steadfast commitment to their product and brand identity has helped to establish its lasting appeal. Among vintage fashion enthusiasts, certain FILA products hold particularly high value, particularly their Magic Line collection. This line, which was primarily produced in the 1980s and 1990s, can be identified by the “”Magic Line”” text featured on the logo and some tags. While other vintage FILA products may also be sought after, the Magic Line is particularly desirable. To determine if your FILA item is vintage, it’s important to look out for the Magic Line branding and other identifying features from the 80s and 90s era.

Can’t identify your vintage tags? Submit a picture on our vintage tag identification page, and let us help you out!

1990s vintage FILA tags

• 1990s Fila tags are wide rectangles
• They are white with a coloured logo
• Both normal and Magic Line fila from the 1990s used these tags
• They all have letter sizing, with many having international sizes as well

1990s FILA tags

2000s vintage FILA tags

• FILA tags in the 2000s continued to be wide rectangles, with a loop tag version being introduced
• They all included letter sizing, but sometimes on a separate tag
• Many of the tags became either navy or black

2000s FILA tags

2010s vintage FILA tags

• In the early 2010s FILA tags were quite similar to the 2000s and were black with a white logo
• Versions that were grey were introduced with the full logo being small on the right side
• They included letter sizing
• In the late 2010s large white tags were reintroduced, often on a clean white fabric that is quite different to the fabric used on 1990s white tags
• White Line Fila was introduced and is a modern line which indicates the FILA piece is not vintage

2010s FILA tags

2010s FILA tags

2010s FILA tags