sportFACHHANDEL fashion_09_2016

omb explodes with Alberto Tomba –
Colmar experiences a boom and became an
absolute sales hit. And even as the longstanding
cooperation with the FISI was
terminated in 1992 the brand remained the
sponsor of important world cup races. Apart
from the successful ski clothing series
the Italian has been offering an own golf
collection such as lines in the categories
fitness and running since 2010. But the
founding of Colmar Originals, a separate
fashion and lifestyle line, in 2009 was truly
crucial for the brand’s success though.
„Therefore we went through our archives
and reissued the highlights from the 70s.
The vintage style down jacket line went
down so well that the collections are sold
in own monostores by now.“ Even today
the company still holds on to its traditions
and is family run in fourth generation
from its headquarters in Brianza. Mario
and Laura Colombo, Giancarlos son and
daughter, run the company together, Giulio
and Carlo Colombo, Angelos sons, perform
as managers. Mario’s son Stefano has
furthermore been acting as the marketing
manager for some years now.
Text: Astrid Schlüchter
An outfit of Colmar from the early 60ies.
the official outfitter for the Italian
Colombo, today’s president, says about
national ski team and the Italian Winter
the suit’s development. At the Olympics in
Sports Federation FISI’s partner. During
Oslo in 1952 Zeno was able to make such
these years the “Olimpionica”, Anorak’s
an impact with the first aerodynamic ski
archetype, originally made of waterproof
clothing, with a tight nylon suit with sides
popeline, with a donned bag, extra belt
and elbows made of stretch tulle, that the
pouch such as wide arms and hood, came
suit was a bestseller for years and remained
into being. Colmar furthermore managed to
in production until 1972. That way Luigi
create a ski suit, the so called „Guaina“, that
Di Marco also managed to break the speed
became the brand’s unmitigated flagship.
record of that time with more than 174 km/h
„My grandmother received the ski star of
in a suit by Colmar. Due to the enormous
the time, Zeno Colò, in her living room and
success of athletes like Piero Gros,
between tea and biscuits she asked him how
Erwin Stricker or Helmut Schmalz at the
she would be able to adapt the ski jacket to
beginning of the 70s Colmar continued to
an adventurous downhill skiers needs. The
invest in the development of new materials,
hero from Abertone said that the biggest
cuts and designs.
disadvantage was that the material moved
In Italy and abroad the brand became a
in the wind. So grandmother consulted
synonym for snow – especially due to the
her corset maker and together they came
slogan at the time: “In caso di neve, Colmar”
up with the idea of applying side parts
(“In case of snow, Colmar”). In the end of
made of eureka to popelinejackets- and
the 70s the Colmar Show set new standards
the piece of art was accomplished”, Mario
as an innovative communication platform.
The show combined cabaret, ballet,
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sportFACHHANDEL
FASHION • 09/2016
fashionshow and acrobatics as a walking
event that was performed in theatres all
over Italy during the winter. In 1987 the
A new interpretation of the
classic Colmar skisuit.
© Colmar