Fila appoints Torsten Hochstetter as global head of design

Fila is focusing more than ever on creativity, after recently unveiling a collaboration with Haider Ackermann by staging a major runway show in Manchester. The long-established Italian sportswear brand, now owned by South Korean businessman Gene Yoon, has hired a top-notch designer to oversee its creative team, appointing Torsten Hochstetter as global head of design.

Hochstetter, 55, joined the company in May. He is in charge of the brand’s creative strategy and of the design office whose job is to rejuvenate Fila’s international apparel, footwear and accessories lines. “[Hochstetter] is in charge of our entire product range. All our product licensees are under his direct control,” said Luca Bertolino, Fila’s global strategic marketing director.

“His first collection will be the Fall/Winter 2023-24, and will be released with an advertising campaign during next August’s US Open tennis championship in New York. It will be an opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our sportswear line and our well-established logo,” added Bertolino.

Renowned for his talent, Hochstetter has extensive experience in the fashion and sportswear industries. For eight years, until 2021, he spearheaded the conception, design and development of all product lines at German sport apparel and equipment brand Puma. Previously, he had worked from 2010 to 2013 as creative director at Californian board sport specialist O’Neill.

Before this, Hochstetter had a distinguished career at Adidas, which he joined in 1995. He worked in Germany, the USA and Japan as creative director of sport performance and creative director of sport style, for lines like Originals, Y-3 and Porsche Design.

Hochstetter started his business career two years before joining Adidas, at German apparel brand S. Oliver, after studying fashion design in Germany and in Florence, at the Polimoda academy.

Fila appoints Torsten Hochstetter as global head of design

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