Fusalp, a legendary brand between performance and elegance

For ski enthusiasts, as well as the fashion-conscious in general, Fusalp is the golden standard. Founded in 1952, in Annecy, the French brand, a contraction of the words “fuseau” (ski pants in French) and “Alps”, didn’t take long to make a name for itself in the skiing world. It then attracted a wider audience thanks to the quality of its clothes, which can be worn both on and off the slopes.

A true pioneer in textile technology, Fusalp quickly built its reputation in competition thanks to the invention of the first technical ski pants. It was an iconic model and a true revolution at the time, benefitting the French team in the 60s.

Under these colours, prestigious skiers, such as the Goitschel sisters, Marielle and Christine, who received two medals each at the 1964 Olympic Games in Innsbruck, and Jean-Claude Killy, who won three gold medals at the Games in Grenoble, wrote some of the best pages in French sport, placing Fusalp at the top.

Thanks to the excellence of its clothing, the brand still remains at the top. And today, Fusalp has announced its return to competition with a partnership with the promising British team. As the official equipment provider of GB Snowsport since 2021, the French brand intends to let its athletes benefit from all the know-how that it has acquired for the ski alpine world championships in Courchevel-Méribel in February.

Dave Ryding, a team GB leader, and slalom winner at Kitzbühel in 2022, didn’t hide his satisfaction when talking about the partnership. “I’ve always wanted to bring something new to skiing,” said the slalom skier. “I thought that we could be like boxers when they enter the ring before the race”.

It was a popular idea. “When the team and I signed our partnership with Fusalp we quickly saw their passion for innovation and fashion”, said Dave Ryding. “And they were very enthusiastic to test the concept. The Fusalp designers then offered us this incredible line of clothes and the fact that they customised it to remind us of our successes meant a lot to me”.

The connection between Fusalp and British skiers is visible on the races’ starting gates as well as in a special collection where the clothes feature the famous Union Jack flag. Each team member has their own favourite piece. For Ryding, it’s “this magnificent jacket that I can wear anywhere and anytime”. His compatriots are just as enamoured.

Billie Major is also a big fan of the “Lucho” jacket, which he praised for its design as well as for being “warm and functional” while his partner Laurie Taylor praised the gilet “that can be worn in summer or winter”. The skier Charlie Guest said “Fusalp’s heritage is shared with competition. It’s a creative heritage in terms of design but it also involves modern technology”. The final word came from Roy Steudle who praised the combination of “sporty and chic”.

It’s this fusion of competition and elegance, tradition and modernity, that allows Fusalp to stand out. Thanks to its partnership with team GB, the legendary French brand, which is rich in tailoring traditions, can once again prove its knowledge of innovation (waterproofing, water repellence, wear resistance, dimensional stability, elasticity etc.).

In a sport where every millisecond counts, the equipment is obviously a major factor. It is with this in mind, as well as the knowledge that a race is won on the precision of movement and detail, that Fusalp designers have created ski suits allowing for aerodynamics and ease of movement, not forgetting Fusalp’s everlasting elegance.