Student wins GFF competition
with his love letter to Ellesse

Xuanhao Yi, a BA (Hons) Fashion Design student, has won third place in the Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) Ellesse Design competition with a collection that is a love letter to Ellesse’s legacy.

17 March 2025

Ellesse challenged fashion design students to explore the brand’s rich legacy, values and Italian heritage and then design a six-outfit collection that pushes the boundaries of tennis apparel and accessories, while maintaining a contemporary aesthetic, for both on and off-court moments. 

Yi said: ‘I poured so much energy into every decision, from the cut of the silhouettes to the strategic placement of the logos—so to have that effort recognised on such a big platform is an incredible honour. It also makes me even more motivated to keep pushing myself as a designer, to continue exploring how fashion and function can coexist seamlessly.” 

Yi’s collection is called ‘Campione’, which means champion in Italian. It is a love letter to Ellesse’s legacy and the idea that sportswear is more than just clothing, but “a symbol of perseverance, passion, and style.” 

His design takes classic sportswear silhouettes – tennis, Formula 1 and ski wear – and reimagines them with contemporary tailoring, bold graphics and performance-driven materials. The result is a “collection that champions those who live at the intersection of sport and fashion,” Yi added. 

“Even the colour palette was deeply intentional, drawing from vintage sports uniforms and urban fashion trends. Shades of racing red, deep navy, forest green, creamy yellow, and classic white create a mix of old-school sports nostalgia with a bold, modern twist,” he continued.

Yi loved the storytelling aspect of this competition and the brief set by Ellesse: "Diving into Ellesse’s history and reinterpreting it for today’s world allowed me to tell a story about legacy, evolution, and the spirit of champions. 

He added: “I also really enjoyed the technical side—experimenting with different materials, structures, and graphics to ensure that each piece felt elevated but still wearable.  

Most of all, it was just so much fun. Fashion is meant to be felt, to be lived in, and to inspire confidence—and I hope Campione does just that.” 

Izzy Crew, Designer at Ellesse, commented: "It's been incredible; I think everyone should be really proud for entering."

Yi has won the opportunity to have one of his designs professionally manufactured and then showcased on the catwalk at the Graduate Fashion Week Gala show this June. 

Read more on the Graduate Fashion Website.