Words: Chris Cotonou
In association with:
When Matt Taylor founded Tracksmith, more than ten years ago, his vision was to change the way people perceived running apparel. For Taylor, there was an obvious difference between the stylish clothes people would go to work in, and the oversized, excessively neon garments that they put on when hitting the pavement. But, over the past decade, Tracksmith has helped change this specific conversation, producing high-quality pieces that have a contemporary approach to retro sports-styling, and which are a treat to put on before going on a run.
“For Fall ’23, we began the season thinking about the correlation between running and agriculture,” says Ned Christensen, Tracksmith’s apparel designer, “planting seeds early on and reaping the rewards through time, patience and hard work. We wanted to visually represent that process, through each drop, with our colour palettes, starting in shades of forest greens and ending in dark browns [and] back to black. Having a clear idea of the colour palettes and sense of climate first allowed us to design into specific end uses and ensure that every new item would seamlessly sit into our runners’ kit.”
For Christensen and the team, they design according to a runner’s needs, focusing on performance with a more classic, tailored look. But, he says, these pieces can be worked into a great post-run look, too. “My go-to right now is a Harrier Tee, Trackhouse Crew, Rapid Transit Pants, New England Overshirt and a pair of Eliot’s [Tracksmith’s running shoes]” he explains – “all are easily layerable wardrobe staples.”
The company’s products are equal measure style and substance, with Taylor, Christensen and co. sourcing the finest materials around. But, there are a few things they look for off the bat: “It needs to wick moisture away for your skin to regulate your body’s temperature,” Christensen says, “it needs to be durable to withstand the rigour that comes with daily training, and it must be quiet. We don’t want to hear any swishing when we run.”
Merino wool, in particular, forms a large part of Tracksmith’s collections, because of its inherent thermo-regulating and odour-resistant properties. For the cold-weather fabrics, it’s important that they keep the runner warm, but also that they’re breathable as you build heat, Christensen says, “so that, when it’s cold, you aren’t dying to remove the third layer you need in the first half of your run, and that you start to regret wearing in the last leg.”
When these elements come together, you have Tracksmith’s technically brilliant winter collection. For Taylor and Christensen, there are unique, stand-out pieces that they’re drawn to – particularly refashioned menswear essentials, such as turtlenecks and fleeces. The Fells Turtleneck, in Merino, is inspired by Taylor’s own running gear in a vintage photograph, meanwhile Christensen suggests the Fens Fleece: “We started the design process by really challenging what a fleece jacket should be for us, and how we could get it to perform better on a run,” he says. “We looked at a tonne of fabrics and finally landed on a dual-sided one that has a high-pile appearance on one side and ribbed temperature regulation on the other. I’ve been wearing the prototype non-stop since we made it,” he adds, “I love being able to dump my hat and gloves in the hand pockets and stow my keys and wallet in the hidden stash pocket.”
That’s what makes Tracksmith’s latest collection so essential to your winter wardrobe. Each item is so stylish, it ought to encourage you to get out there and run – but, they’re also technically and functionally sound, meaning that you’ll find yourself reaching for them even when popping out for a jog isn’t on the agenda.
Want more from Tracksmith? We examine the history and spirit of the brand…
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