Hélas x Kappa – 90s football capsule collection combining skate and streetwear

This capsule collection, created by the umbrella brand and the iconic Italian sportswear manufacturer, takes us straight back to the magic of 1990s football, paying tribute to the golden age of the sport. It combines the unique style of Hélas' dream team with Kappa's iconic and vibrant Serie A designs.

The azure blue and bright yellow tones are not just a simple colour palette: they celebrate the luminous landscapes and sunny spirit of the south of France, the birthplace of the Hélas brand.

But first, as usual, a little bit of history...

1916

Abramo Vitale founded Calzificio Torinese and began producing socks on his own farm. Keen to guarantee impeccable quality, the Vitale family stamped their new creations with the monogram ‘K-KONTROLL’, symbolising the highest standards and rigorous quality control inspired by German norms.

1979

Kappa® was the first Italian brand to become the official sponsor of a football club, Juventus FC. This visionary decision marked a turning point, propelling the brand to international status.

Today, Kappa® has established itself as an international brand combining sporting heritage and lifestyle culture. Born on the football pitch and athletics track, it made history by becoming one of the first equipment manufacturers to combine technology, design and brand image. Its iconic logo, the Omini, is now recognised worldwide as a symbol of unity and authenticity. True to its DNA, Kappa® continues to equip clubs and athletes while reinterpreting its iconic archives to appeal to a new generation, at the crossroads of sport, streetwear and contemporary fashion.

The brand with the umbrella

Hélas

Hélas is a French skatewear brand founded in 2011 by Lucas Puig, Clément Brunel and Stephen Khou. Born out of a discussion between friends in London, the idea was to create a line that combines the authenticity of skateboarding with a sense of style inspired by everyday Parisian life. The name ‘Hélas’, which means ‘unfortunately’ in French, and the umbrella logo have become powerful symbols, stemming from an anecdote about a rainy trip, transformed into a nod to the brand's identity.

The brand started out with caps, notably the famous 5-panel caps, before expanding its collections to include complete clothing ranges. Hélas has developed a unique aesthetic, combining urban elegance with a raw and authentic attitude. Its designs draw inspiration from the 80s and 90s, ranging from tracksuits, polo shirts, hoodies and retro shirts to sandals and accessories, all with a keen eye for detail and a distinctive graphic identity.

One of Hélas' strengths is its direct link to the skateboarding community, embodied by Lucas Puig, an international figure in the sport. The brand regularly sponsors riders and is deeply rooted in European street and skateboarding culture, giving it a particular legitimacy compared to other more ‘fashion-oriented’ labels.

Over the years, Hélas has found its balance between skateboarding and lifestyle, offering technical and stylish clothing distributed in numerous independent skate shops and specialist boutiques across Europe. Through its collaborations, notably with Adidas Skateboarding, and its collections imbued with visual nostalgia and cultural references, Hélas has established itself as a key player in European skatewear.

The exclusive Kappa x Hélas capsule collection consists of six pieces that revisit retro sportswear codes by merging them with Hélas' graphic identity: a short-sleeved jersey, a long-sleeved jersey, a tracksuit jacket, tracksuit bottoms, a cap and a scarf.