Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have become the new creative directors of Superga.

The designer twins - who already have their own labels, The Row, Elizabeth + James and Olsenboye - have teamed up with the tennis shoe brand and will launch a collection of the trainers co-branded under The Row for spring/summer 2012.

Steve Madden, whose company owns the North American license of the Italian shoe label, said: "We do a lot of business with Mary-Kate and Ashley. They've become friends."

Steve also revealed how the siblings approached him about teaming up rather than the other way round.

Ashley added to WWD: "We were at a meeting with Steve, and we were wearing Supergas - two years later, it kind of fell into our lap. I really don't think there's anything like this brand. It's a tennis-shoe brand with 100 years under its belt. Superga is really a luxurious brand. We are really hoping to bring it back to its Roots."

Mary-Kate and Ashley already collaborate with Steve on the license for shoes for their Elizabeth + James line.