When it comes to effortless elegance, few nations rival Italy—and that style extends well beyond the runways of Milan or the cobblestones of Rome. On basketball courts, in football stadiums, and across locker rooms, Italian athletes and coaches are turning the heat up on global sports fashion. Now, an exciting new partnership between historic fashion house Pignatelli and top-tier basketball club APU Udine takes this tradition of Italian flair to bold new heights.
As revealed in an official press release, Pignatelli—a name synonymous with refined tailoring and timeless sophistication—will dress APU Udine with a full custom formalwear look starting in the 2025/2026 Serie A1 season. This isn’t just a sponsorship; it’s a statement. Players and team management alike will wear a sleek total black ensemble, designed to reflect the team’s core values of cohesion, determination, and innovation—with that unmistakable Italian edge.
The outfit is a masterclass in contemporary tailoring: a two-button deconstructed suit in micro-matelassé fabric, paired with a slim-fit pant that moves with modern ease. Instead of a classic shirt, players will don a crepe cotton t-shirt, embellished with a tone-on-tone strass logo—a nod to the understated glamour that Pignatelli has perfected over decades. The color? APU Udine’s iconic black, also a signature of the maison itself, symbolizing both timeless elegance and cutting-edge style.
The official unveiling of the new formalwear will take place on Saturday, October 11, during Udine’s home match against Virtus Olidata Bologna. In a move that perfectly fuses coaching and couture, the APU Udine coach will debut the suit on the bench, elevating sideline fashion into a visual emblem of team identity and Italian excellence.
This collaboration is more than just a wardrobe upgrade—it’s the latest example of Italy’s deep integration of fashion and sport. For years, Italian athletes have blurred the line between the two worlds. From Giorgio Armani outfitting Olympic teams, to tennis star Jannik Sinner’s monogrammed Gucci bag at Wimbledon, style has become part of Italy’s game strategy. Even coaches, once overlooked in the fashion arena, are now icons of cool-headed class—embodying the idea that passion and polish aren’t mutually exclusive.
In stepping onto the court with Pignatelli, APU Udine isn’t just embracing high fashion; it’s stepping into a broader narrative of Italian cultural identity, where how you play is as important as how you present yourself. This is the future of sport as Italy sees it: fiercely competitive, proudly elegant, and always impeccably dressed.
Because in Italy, even a game is an occasion—and the wardrobe must rise to meet it.
