Running offers unparalleled opportunities for self-expression and fulfilment – every runner shapes the sport into something truly unique. Whether running towards the dream of a podium finish or running to escape the stresses of the workday you’ve just left behind; from stylishly pounding the pavements of your urban neighbourhood or successfully navigating tracks and trails further afield: every runner has their own motivations for pulling on their kit and tying their laces.
It is in exploring these uniquely varied and often surprisingly creative perspectives on the sport that the FW19 Run City Pack was born. For each partner –Wood Wood, Universal Works, NEIGHBORHOOD and Monocle - adidas provided the opportunity to combine the creativity that powers their brands with adidas’ unparalleled expertise and innovation. To coincide with each release and to add another layer of context to Run City Pack - each partner has worked on compiling its very own running playlist that will be available via the adidas Spotify channel.
The second release in the pack comes via refined British menswear brand Universal Works, and its co-founder, David Keyte. Keyte takes inspiration from the functional requirements for running through London’s cold, wet winters. But equally, it is inspired by the desire to run in apparel and footwear that meets the same aesthetic standards you would apply to everyday clothing. Each piece channels the understated, thoughtful design considerations that have come to typify the brand, fashioned with an individual sense of personality. Particularly striking is the use of textiles that one might not necessarily expect to see in this combination in high performance running apparel: polyesters feature prominently, as do insulating fabrics made from wool. As Keyte says, “wool scares a lot of runners, but it can be much more breathable, and regulate heat far more effectively, than cotton even. It’s a natural fibre too which is a bonus, with real spring and elasticity.
The foundations of the pack come in the form of two new takes on the UltraBOOST 19 running shoe. Each is rendered in neutral, natural shades of white and brown, allowing the style’s functional qualities to come to the fore: Primeknit 360 uppers, BOOST cushioning, a 3D heel frame and a Torsion System spring in the midsole. Meanwhile, the apparel offering layers up to create the complete covert running uniform. Mirroring the items that Keyte himself often runs in, leggings sit under shorts, while a vest provides a lightweight addition to the long-sleeved base layer and a bum bag offers a close-control compartment for essential items.
A key consideration for Keyte is that his running apparel doesn’t feel like a running ‘costume’, something he achieves with this capsule. there are still a number of distinctly personal touches in the pieces – and nowhere is this more apparent than in the breathable running cap that takes its inspiration from the trucker-style cap Keyte normally runs in.
As Keyte sums up, with a statement that could easily apply to the collection as a whole: “I want to run in items that are still going to look good when you stop at the coffee shop afterwards.”
RELEASE 23.11 ONLINE AT 00:01AM GMT+1
