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Running Brands Are Getting A Fashion Upgrade
Images courtesy of SATISFY, Bandit, and District Vision // Illustration by Kate Walker
New running apparel and footwear brands that prioritize fashion and performance are picking up speed in popularity.
Why It Hits: Running has become more than just fitness — it’s now a bona fide social gathering. As a result, athletes are looking their best for the occasion. Like streetwear before it, the ability to show off your personality and get your hands on exclusive items communicates the persona you’re trying to project… even when covered in sweat.
Behind The Looks: Running has never been hotter, and people are spending thousands of dollars to look cool while doing it, according to Bloomberg.
Brands like SATISFY, Bandit Running, and District Vision have seen double-digit sales growth over the past year, despite premium price tags — like SATISFY’s holey $140 “MothTech” shirts.
That’s also led to a boom in innovative performance wear (silver-foil shorts and hydration vests, anyone?), even prompting Nike to revive its experimental All Conditions Gear line.
Many of these companies operate on streetwear-style limited-edition drops to drive demand. Some even offer memberships for early access.
Beyond apparel and shoes, runners are embracing a growing list of accessories — from running belts and hydration vests to specialty headphones — to help boost performance.
Last Lap: All this spending has led to 10% growth in US sales of running-specific apparel (nearly $1 billion annually) and 12% growth in running shoe sales ($7.7 billion), according to Circana. That has coincided with the surge in popularity of all types of running, including run clubs (sometimes backed by celebrities) and marathons. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association found that 52.3 million Americans ran or jogged last year.
At least everyone’s getting their steps in.
Prediction: With a Strava survey finding that 30% of Gen Z plans to spend more on fitness apparel this year, expect the biggest trend in fashion to be clothes that work just as well for running as they do for everyday life. No one has time to change.
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Today’s email was written by David Vendrell.
Edited by Nick Comney. Polled and Copy-edited by Kait Cunniff.
Published by Darline Salazar.