history

SLAM

19 december 1979

Once upon a time

There is a group of young
passionate yachtsmen who decide to create, plan, and produce
technical sailwear capable of making the life of yachtsmen and yachtswomen more comfortable.

1980

The Mickey Bear jacket is borne

It is an innovative thermal, water-repellent, pile jacket – a revolution, as exclusively wool and cotton had been used up until then. For the first time SLAM participates in the Olympics and steps onto the winners’ podium thanks to the bronze medal won in star class by the couple Gorla-Peraboni.

1984

The SLAM Jacket is launched

An indestructible and practical water-repellent jacket derived from the oilskin, which could be worn in any situation. It was produced for 21 years (a record!).
SLAM is official supplier of the Sardinia Cup, the biannual event of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The partnership with the YCCS began then and lasted for 30 years.

1986

Advanced Technology Sportswear

The Advanced Technology Sportswear collection is borne. Its flagship became the classical sailing jacket, which the Spanish called the chaqueta de toda la vida and of which over 1,000,000 pieces were to be produced/sold. SLAM sponsors the J24 Class, the most popular monotype of those times.

1988

The High Seas System is launched

It is the first oilskin outfit (jumper, gilet, and jacket) made with diversified fabrics.  The Marisa team wins the  prestigious Sardinia Cup while wearing High Seas oilskins.

1990

Merit and Whitbread Round the World Race

SLAM participates in the Whitbread Round the World Race by dressing the Maxi Merit team with gear from its attractive and colorful technical collection. SLAM creates the Stormy Gear system, for which breathable fabrics are employed for sailing gear for the fist time.

1992

Slam shops opening

The first two SLAM shops are opened; one in Portovenere, one of the most charming costal villages in Liguria; and another in Cowes (Isle of Wight, UK), the birthplace of world yachting. The quality of the ocean oilskins, tested at the southernmost latitudes, has improved considerably over time and they are now officially part of the technical collection.

1994

Cowes Week

SLAM sponsors Cowes Week and the Commodore’s Cup, the regattas organized by the Royal Yacht Squadron, the sancta sanctorum of British yachting.  The Sportswear collection has become increasingly complete and now includes womenswear and childrenswear.

1996

SLAM launches its first footwear collection

The flagship of this brand new collection is the technical shoe, Mistral.  It embarks on the Australian 18 Footers, the most spectacular and dynamic skiffs of those times, and wins three consecutive European cups.

1998

Regatta Polo

SLAM sponsors Raffica, the free class of Garda, which wins the “48th Centomiglia”, the “Bol D’or” on the Lemano, and the “Blu Storm” (which wins the Sardinia Cup). The regatta polo in piquet is a best seller: 1,375,000 pieces have been produced.

2000

Italian Sailing Federation

SLAM dresses the Italian Sailing Federation at the Olympics in Sydney and wins 2 medals: a gold medal goes to Alessandra Sensini (windsurf) and a silver medal to Luca Devoti (Finn).
 An innovative yarn, the Meryl, highly protective against the sun rays, is employed for the first time in technical sailing gear.

2002

Louis Vuitton Cup

SLAM participates in Around Alone, the solo sailing around the world race, by dressing Simone Bianchetti on board his “Open 60 Tiscali”, with the brand new “SB Ocean Waves” (SB in his honor) SLAM is chosen to dress the Umpires during the Louis Vuitton Cup in Auckland, thanks to the sun protection quality of the Meryl yarn, with which the uniforms were make.

2004

Meryl laser cut t-shirt

Slam supplies the Nicorette team, which wins the Rolex Sydney to Hobart, in extremely severe weather conditions.  The Laser Cut Meryl T-shirt is produced. It is completely seamless, thanks to the laser cut with which the neck, sleeves, and bottom were made.

2005

RUSSELL COUTTS

Russell Coutts, 4-time winner of the America’s Cup, becomes a SLAM testimonial and a “top-level tester” for the technical collection.  The RC Oilskins collection is borne. The oilskins were designed with Russell Coutts’s collaboration and represent an innovation in terms of lightness, comfort, and ergonomical qualities.

2006

RC Techno Vest

Two SUPER MAXIs join the SLAM team: the Maximus, which broke the Around the Isle of Wight record, and the Alfa Romeo, Neville Cricthon’s 98 footer; which was to win all the Line Honours this year. The RC Techno Vest is produced. It is a gilet made with Neoplus, the innovative fabric made from a sandwich consisting of Sensitive/perforated Neoprene/ Sensitive, which is breathable, keeps the muscles warm and reactive, and protects against atmospheric agents.

2007

SLAM Cup

SLAM partakes in America’s Cup by dressing the Shosholoza team. The Shosholoza- South Africa’s 2007 Challenge collection is produced in colors inspired by the South African traditions.  SLAM launches the Underwear collection, consisting of completely seamless pieces.  The first SLAM CUP is borne. It takes place in Santa Margherita, the Italian stage of the World Cup for the RC 44.

2008

Area 51 t-shirt

AREA 51 is presented. It is the innovative technical sweater designed for the Olympic yachtsmen racing in Quindao, the regatta field in Beijing. The sweater is made with seven diverse technological fabrics. With the Italian Sailing Federation, of which it is official supplier, SLAM wins two Olympic medals: a silver medal goes to Alessandra Sensini (windsurf) and a bronze medal goes to Diego Romero (Laser). The GOLF collection is borne.  Franck Cammas, winner of five ORMA World Championship and holder of the Jules Verne Trophy (the non-stop circumnavigation of the world), becomes SLAM testimonial.

2009

BMW Oracle Racing Team

SLAM produces the most revolutionary and innovative stretch oilskin – lightweight, breathable, water-repellent, and above all stretch – to dress the America’s Cup BMW ORACLE Racing team.  SLAM is the official gear supplier of the explorer Mike Horn and of the Pangaea project, the round-the-world project aimed at rediscovering mother earth. SLAM fabrics are thus tested at the North and South Poles.  It becomes the official supplier of the Spanish soccer team, Santander.

2010

Americas Cup winners

SLAM wins the 33rd America’s Cup on board the 90-footer trimaran, BMW ORACLE Racing. A fully comprehensive Skiff collection is launched to better support the Australian Sailing Team and the New Zealand Yachting Federation, the two top federations in the Olympic classes.  SLAM wins with Franck Cammas and the Groupama trimaran in the Route du Rhum, the solo transatlantic race.  It is partner of Esimit Europa 2, the first “European” boat which wins the Giraglia, the Palermo-Montecarlo, the Barcolana, and the Middle Sea Race in real time. It launches the new collection of sun-glasses and eyeglasses.

2011

Franck Cammas and Groupama 4 team

SLAM participates in the Volvo Ocean Race, the circumnavigation of the world which begins in Alicante in October, by dressing the GROUPAMA 4 team and the skipper Franck Cammas with the new Oceania collection.  Innovative, super-lightweight products are put on the market. The BLOW Jacket is the first to be produced. Warm and soft like a down jacket, it is lightweight, insulating, water-repellent, and the ideal jacket for temperatures ranging from -2° C to + 20° C.