In the world of running, there is no shortage of brands available to cater to a wide variety of requirements. Whether you’re a novice runner or an ultra-long-distance athlete, there is a brand designed to meet your needs.
At Blue Associates Sportswear, we have been designing running apparel for start-ups and established brands for over 28 years. We continuously monitor the market and stay up to date with the latest trends, technologies, and innovations to ensure we create functional, distinctive, and forward-thinking running gear for new brands.
To help navigate the ever-growing running apparel market, we have reviewed and selected some of the top running brands to watch. Each brand has been assessed based on construction, fabrics, production location, and key product features, giving insight into the diverse approaches within the industry.
Soar: -
Founded in London in 2015, Soar was created to produce technical apparel for committed and passionate runners worldwide. The brand focuses on combining innovation, sports science, design technology, and textile development, creating garments informed by the real-world experience of runners.
Soar utilises advanced construction techniques such as bonded and taped seams, laser cutting, and minimal stitching to create lightweight garments that move seamlessly with the body without restriction. Seams are intelligently shaped to follow the runner’s anatomy, ensuring each garment performs precisely as intended.
A strong example of this design approach can be seen in the Hot weather T. The horizontal seam across the chest and vertical side seams allow for the integration of two different fabrics, each with a specific purpose. A mesh fabric on the front promotes maximum airflow, while the shoulder fabric provides UV protection.
Another standout design feature appears in the Run tights. Unlike many leggings that can shift during changes in body position, Soar has incorporated silicone grippers to keep the garment securely in place. These grippers are positioned inside the leg opening, waist, thigh, knee, and calf, ensuring stability and comfort throughout a run.
For practicality, the Weather jacket includes a built-in pouch, allowing the jacket to pack into itself when not being worn. This creates a compact, lightweight solution that eliminates the need to tie a jacket around the waist. The jacket’s lightweight fabric and minimal construction further reduce overall weight.
Hidden airflow vents are also integrated into the design, promoting breathability, and preventing sweat from being absorbed and trapped against the skin. Effective moisture management is essential in running apparel, as it helps regulate body temperature and reduces the risk of skin irritation, odour, and discomfort.
The windproof fabric helps block cold air and wind chill, maintaining core body temperature and reducing heat loss. The fleece lining enhances warmth by trapping natural body heat and slowing thermal energy loss. Despite being reversible, the gilet maintains full pocket accessibility in both configurations.
The design also includes a two-way zip, allowing runners to adjust ventilation as needed. This enhances airflow and breathability, helping to prevent sweat from clinging to the skin.
Additional innovation can be seen in the Hooded performance top, which includes internal hand warmers and a watch window at the sleeve hem. The top can be purchased with the hand warmers included, ensuring runners can take full advantage of the garment’s functional design.
To minimise weight, all garments are made using lightweight performance fabrics. These include Merino wool, recycled polyester, recycled elastane, and high-performance synthetics.
One of Soar’s most innovative pieces is their Graphene vest, which features a printed graphene circuit designed to regulate body temperature through conductive cooling when running in temperatures between 10–19°C. Combined with an ultra-lightweight fabric base and non-sewn seams, this vest is a strong contender for many athletes’ race-day wardrobes.
Storage has also been carefully considered. The Marathon Shorts feature front loops for two gels, cargo pockets for four additional gels, and a large zipped pocket for valuables. These storage solutions are positioned for easy access whilst remaining secure during movement.
Many of Soar’s products are manufactured in Europe, including Portugal, Italy, and Lithuania, with the occasional production in China. This makes the brand particularly appealing to consumers who prefer European-made garments.
On Running
On Running is a brand driven by technological innovation, continuous experimentation, and a willingness to challenge conventional design. Their athlete-led approach focuses on delivering high-performance products with the lowest possible footprint, enhanced manufacturing methods, and circular design principles.
Reflective detailing is a consistent feature across their apparel, improving visibility and safety during low-light runs. This can be seen in the Performance-T Lumos, which incorporates logos and knitted reflective details.
This T-shirt also features taped seams, reducing friction compared to traditional sewn seams. The result is a smoother, more comfortable garment that minimises distraction during runs.
Much of On Running’s collection incorporates recycled materials such as recycled polyester, polyamide, and elastane, alongside natural fibres like organic cotton. These materials offer comparable benefits to traditional synthetics, including lightweight performance, breathability, quick-drying properties, and moisture wicking.
As part of their sustainability commitment, On Running uses a high percentage of recycled materials across both garments and packaging. Their production takes place in Portugal, Turkey, China, and Vietnam, depending on product complexity.
Bandit Running
Founded in New York in 2020, Bandit Running is a community-driven brand that encourages participation and passion in sport through thoughtfully designed, runner-focused products. Since launch, the brand has grown to support runners worldwide.
One of Bandit’s most distinctive products is the Cadence Vaso Race Crop, which features six built-in gel pockets and one phone pocket. Designed to remain discreet during runs, the pocket system is positioned at the back of the crop top—one of the flattest areas of the body—ensuring items are securely held, do not interfere with movement, and remain easily accessible.
The pocket construction is seamlessly integrated into the garment, with the printed pattern cleverly disguising the pocket openings.
For versatility, Bandit has developed a Reversible Gilet featuring a fleece lining and a windproof outer fabric. This allows runners to wear the fleece internally or externally on the garment, depending on weather conditions and training needs.
Bandit Running’s collection is primarily produced in China, Vietnam, Portugal, and Peru.
If you’re interested in building your own running brand and are looking for expert design and development support, Blue Associates Sportswear can help bring your vision to life.
Click here to see some of the running brands we have helped launch.