Sergio Tacchini vs FILA Which Retro Sportswear Brand?
Two Italian names dominate the retro track top, and on a rail they are easy to confuse: Sergio Tacchini and FILA. Both came off the tennis court, both crossed into British terrace and casuals style, and both still sell on the strength of a zip-up top. This guide covers where each one came from, how the two looks differ, and the one thing that catches people out — the fit.
The short answer
Sergio Tacchini for the cleaner 80s tennis look, FILA for the chunkier 70s heritage. Both are Italian retro-sportswear icons built around the tennis-court track top. Sergio Tacchini brings the bold colour-blocking, but size up, because the tops come up small. FILA brings the Settanta silhouette and tipped-rib trims, and it fits true to size.
The look
Clean and sporty, or heritage and texture. Both brands live and die by the track top, but the shape of it is different: Sergio Tacchini leans on crisp, panelled colour-blocking with a stand collar and the round ST monogram, for a sharper tennis-club feel, while FILA runs to a chunkier, more retro silhouette with ribbed bomber-style collars and cuffs, contrast tipping, velour options and the unmistakable red-and-navy F-box. If you want clean and sporty, go Sergio Tacchini; if you want heritage and texture, go FILA. Shop Sergio Tacchini · Shop FILA · Sergio Tacchini track tops
At a glance
Two Italian sportswear originals, side by side. Same country, same courtside heritage, different decade and a different fit. The table below sets out where each brand comes from and what it is known for.
| Sergio Tacchini | FILA | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1966, Italy | 1911, Biella, Italy |
| Roots | Tennis champion Sergio Tacchini | Knitwear house turned sportswear |
| Tennis icon | Worn by McEnroe & Vilas (80s) | Worn by Björn Borg (70s/80s) |
| Signature piece | Orion / Dallas track top | Settanta track top |
| Logo | Round "ST" monogram | The red & navy F-box |
| Look | Clean colour-blocked panels | Tipped ribbed collar & cuffs |
| Fit | Tops come up small — size up | True to size |
| Best for | 80s tennis / terrace style | 70s heritage / casuals look |
Heritage
FILA is the older house; Sergio Tacchini is the tennis professional's own label. FILA goes back to 1911 in Biella, northern Italy, where it made knitwear and textiles long before it moved into sportswear in the 1970s, and its tennis heyday is defined by Björn Borg, whose FILA kit became legendary at Wimbledon; the brand later became a cornerstone of 90s hip-hop and UK casuals style, and the Settanta track top remains its most recognisable piece. Sergio Tacchini was founded in 1966 by the Italian tennis professional of the same name, and through the late 70s and 80s its tracksuits became courtside icons worn by stars like John McEnroe and Guillermo Vilas, crossing over into British terrace and casual culture, where the bold colour-blocked track tops are still a staple today.
Sizing
This is where they part ways: size up in Sergio Tacchini, order your usual size in FILA. Sergio Tacchini tops come up small, with t-shirts, polos and track tops all running snug, so we recommend sizing up for a comfortable, regular fit, although the shorts and joggers are true to size. FILA is true to size with a comfortable regular cut, so order your usual size. Get the sizing right and either brand layers easily. Sergio Tacchini sizing guide · FILA sizing guide
Price and value
The two sit in a similar, accessible bracket. Retro track tops typically land around £60–£90 and tees from around £25–£35, so the decision is rarely about budget. At Spiral Seven we are an official stockist of both, with regular sale lines and free next-day UK delivery on orders over £70, which makes it easy to compare the two side by side at fair prices.
Common questions
Is Sergio Tacchini or FILA better?
Does Sergio Tacchini come up small?
Does FILA fit true to size?
What are Sergio Tacchini and FILA's most famous pieces?
Are Sergio Tacchini and FILA good for terrace or casuals style?
Still unsure
Buy Sergio Tacchini for the clean 80s tennis look, FILA for 70s heritage. Go Sergio Tacchini if you want bold colour-blocked track tops and a sharper finish, and remember to size up; go FILA if you want the Settanta-style ribbed collar, the texture that comes with it and a true-to-size fit. If you are still deciding, the two sit perfectly together in a casuals wardrobe, and plenty of people go Sergio Tacchini for tennis-clean fits and FILA for retro statement pieces.
Written by the Spiral Seven buying team · Last updated 29 June 2026 · Official UK stockist of Sergio Tacchini and FILA
