A few weeks ago, we went to Canottieri Olona – the sports center on the Naviglio Grande in Milan – where we met part of the Diadora team. Along with the founder of Palmes, Nikolaj Hansson, they presented a special collaboration to us. After a few hours of tennis, we listened to some of Hansson’s story, his brand, the B.560 – the shoe in collaboration with Diadora – and the story of Giovanni Fabrizio, the ambassador for this launch. In short, tennis is being talked about more than ever – even more than last year, if that’s possible. There’s the documentary on the final days of Roger Federer‘s competitive career – Federer: Twelve Final Days on Prime Video – which we watched as soon as it came out, Jannik Sinner at the top of the ATP ranking, and Wimbledon just around the corner. So, what better time to talk about one of our favorite sports, tennis?
The Shoe Signed by Diadora and Palmes
At the heart of the Diadora and Palmes collaboration is the B.560, an iconic model that was worn by many tennis players in the ’90s, representing just part of Diadora’s footprint in the world of tennis. In this new version, the shoe features a waxed full-grain leather upper, complemented by suede details and a “dark washed” rubber sole. In short, the shoe is iconic, and Palmes’ touch ensures a decidedly vintage but also very elegant look.
Palmes – Nikolaj Hansson‘s brand – is a brand that aims to “bring progressive ethos into sports and the culture surrounding it,” as stated in the press release accompanying the news of the collaboration. The collections of this very young brand (founded in 2021) are designed not only for the court but also for everyday life. During our morning together, Hansson also told us about influences from art, design, architecture, music, and finally skateboarding – a world he has been connected to for a long time.
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@tennis.gio and the Shoe Launch Video
The video accompanying the launch features Giovanni Fabrizio, a tennis instructor from Altamura who went viral on TikTok and has a good following on Instagram. The film follows Giovanni, known on social media as @tennis.gio, on a journey where he dialogues with his younger self, then dedicates himself to creating the perfect shoe for his famous tricks on the court. The authenticity of the tennis teacher’s story, his affability, and the elegance of the final product perfectly align with Diadora’s heritage for a final result worth watching here. In short, not your usual launch campaign.
The shoe is available from today, June 27, both on Diadora‘s website and Palmes‘s website.
