Paolo Fina and Padel Mi Amor: “A tribute to Spain, the country that made me fall in love with this sport”
The Milanese entrepreneur explains how the clothing line—which has now become the new go-to brand for padel players—came to be: “It’s an invitation to experience and express this sport in your own way, embracing your own uniqueness…”
Paolo Fina, an entrepreneur from Milan, tells us his story. A former entertainer on the Milanese nightlife scene, at age 52 he fell in love with padel and decided to live out and share his passion for the sport through Padel Mi Amor, a unique clothing line, designed and created together with his partner and business partner Alessandra, and now a new go-to brand for padel players in Italy and Spain.
Who is Paolo Fina?
“I’m someone who has always tried to have fun in life by letting my passion guide me, turning it into work, and sharing all of this with others. My greatest rewards have come from the satisfaction of my clients. I’m an observer; I like to study people, and I draw inspiration from their experiences so I can give them my very best. In my work, I’ve always sought new challenges and that adrenaline rush. I discovered Milan’s nightlife scene; I wanted to have fun and organize events that would leave people with something special. And I succeeded. Then I continued working in entertainment as a radio host, thanks to the network of contacts I’d built in Milan. And like any true Milanese, I’ve spent my vacations for the past 20 years in Formentera, the island I love.”
In 2013, something happened…
“Yes, that year I founded ‘Formentera Mi Amor,’ my real estate agency based on the island. ‘Mi amor’ is used in Latin cultures to describe a deep passion, a piece of one’s heart. Formentera was exactly that for me. So many people placed their trust in me, and I wanted to give my clients truly unique vacations. In 2014, I moved there permanently to run the business, and I stayed until 2019.”
Padel: love at first sight or a passion cultivated over time?
“It was love at first sight in 2017, at 52, right here in Formentera. I remember my first match; I wasn’t good at it, but I fell in love. It’s a sport that’s immediate, it excites you, there’s a great energy. It was amazing to be able to challenge myself at my age in a sport that was complete, that allowed me to express myself, that was fun and impactful. There was also a healthy level of competition within myself, and therefore a desire to continually improve. I played all summer, and my partner Alessandra joined me, who immediately shared my passion. So, when we returned to Italy, we decided we wanted to do something together for padel.”
From “Formentera Mi Amor” to “Padel Mi Amor”?
“Yes, the idea clicked during one of my events, organized for the first time in May 2018 in Formentera: the pro-am padel tournament—professionals versus amateurs—featuring Italy vs. Spain. For the 2019 edition, the absolute best Italian players and some of the best Spanish players from the Balearic Islands came. And for the occasion—which was a huge success—we designed the first T-shirt featuring my agency’s logo. That’s how Padel Mi Amor was born. A spark was ignited within me—confirmation of our true love for padel and the desire to express it through a new, innovative clothing line, which was then officially launched in 2021 with Alessandra, my life partner and business partner. The company is 100% Italian and based in Milan. Today, Padel Mi Amor is like our own child.”
What do the logo and tagline represent?
“The logo is a stylized ‘P’ with a ball at the end, and the tagline written below it, which encapsulates our philosophy. ‘Tu manera de vivir el padel’ is an invitation to experience and embrace this sport in your own way, in your own unique way.”
What makes the Padel Mi Amor line unique?
“We studied our competitors, and I personally interviewed padel players to understand what they needed, what was missing, and how they wanted to feel on the court. They wanted to wear something breathable that felt comfortable and lightweight—something beautiful and unique. And we strive to become an increasingly influential brand for them and one of the leading names in the industry. We’ve prioritized simplicity, with a focus on fabric quality, comfort, style, and color—minimal text that highlights only the logo and tagline. Our ongoing development is grounded in these core principles. We take great care in selecting suppliers who perfectly align with our vision. Since our founding, we’ve been selling online (CLICK HERE FOR INFO). The design and styling are handled by an Italian designer who creates our garments exclusively. We started with our iconic sweaters and then expanded our collection. For the upcoming season, we’ve decided to add a few more designs to our garments to express even more personality and further set us apart. Alessandra and I have divided the tasks: she manages production, and I handle all communication.
How do you promote Padel Mi Amor?
“We’ve chosen Emiliano Carchia as our brand ambassador—since 2022, he’s been one of the best-known influencers in the world of padel—but we also love the idea of outfitting amateur couples who play; that’s what we showcase at our exhibition booths. This year we’ve signed Simon Garforth-Bles, an Italian-British padel player ranked No. 22 nationally. This sport is also booming in the UK, and we’re right in the thick of it. We also have a web agency handling all our online activities.”
And in person?
“We organize two tournaments a year—one for women and one for men—where we offer our technical gear as prizes and host top-level players. In December 2022, we exhibited at the Milano Premier Padel P1 in front of 27,000 spectators. We were the only ones offering apparel for both men and women; we’re very pleased with the results and will do it again this year. And we’ll definitely be at the Rome leg of the Italy Major Premier Padel in July. Last January, also in Milan, we were present at the first edition of the Padel Trend Expo, and that’s where our first opportunity abroad came about. Andrea Balducci opened the doors for us in Spain.”
In the retail sector, are you currently present in Italy and Spain?
“Yes, we have a pro shop inside the Padelarium Gavà in Barcelona, the most famous and important indoor padel center in Catalonia, where Belasteguin and Marcela Ferrari train. This will be our first brick-and-mortar store and the start of our dream of taking the brand global. It’s important to have a presence in the country where padel has truly taken off. Soon we’ll be in two other centers, also in Spain.”
And in Italy?
“Starting March 1, we have some big news: we’ve launched our presence at the Padel Fun Store, the multi-brand store in Milan owned by Marta Sannito, the wife of Cabrini, a former soccer player.”
What are Padel Mi Amor’s future goals?
“In the short term, we want to work on building the brand’s credibility and offering customers more choices, including an accessories line. We’d like to be a one-stop brand for padel players.”
And in the long run, what are your dreams?
“It would be great to be able to grow alongside padel and help establish it on the international stage. The first step has been taken in Spain. It takes time, hard work, sacrifice, humility, and dedication. This will be our challenge, driven by passion—the driving force behind it all.”
