From the Seoul Marathon (Dong-A Marathon) last month to The Race Seoul this month.
As races continue, 'runners' are particularly noticeable these days.
With the weather having significantly improved, whether it's morning or evening, by the Han River or in the city,
running seems to have become quite a natural scene.
Amidst this trend, an interesting shift is also apparent.
In the past, discussions about running centered on records, pace, or distance, but
these days, something else has been added alongside.
"What one wears while running."
Beyond just functional running wear, people are naturally coordinating their outfits, including apparel, hats, vests, and sunglasses.
Clearly, more people are extending their personal style even to the moments they are running.
Perhaps this is why the current running scene feels a bit softer and more diverse.
It's a movement for records, but it also extends into a form of style. This evolution is naturally reflected in brands as well.
While traditional sports brands have focused on technological advancements for lighter, faster, and more efficient performance, many brands are now also considering 'how they look' on top of that.
They maintain functionality as a baseline, but interpret running wear as a style through silhouette, color, and detail.
As a result, the boundary between running and fashion seems to be gradually blurring.
Today, we've gathered running brands that are catching the eye with their design amidst this trend.
From names familiar to those who enjoy running, to brands that are less known domestically but are highly appealing.
We aim to explore the trends that make the current running scene so exciting, one by one.
Style Added to Running
(1) SATISFY
Satisfy. One of the first names that comes to mind among running enthusiasts.
Founded in Paris in 2015, Satisfy approaches running wear from a different perspective. While functionally complete, its design and atmosphere are what first capture attention.
A slightly rugged, somewhat free-spirited feel. A mood somewhere between street and outdoor.
Beyond clothes for running well, it embodies the trend of interpreting running as a style and culture. Satisfy is perhaps at the heart of this movement.
(2) District Vision
District Vision offers a different nuance. As a brand that started with sunglasses, its overall impression is highly refined.
A calm and urban atmosphere rather than overly sporty. Looking at this brand, one realizes that running doesn't necessarily have to be associated with a rugged, intense image.
The collaboration product with New Balance, released earlier this month, is also a result that clearly showcases their aesthetic. It adds understated design on top of functional excellence, demonstrating a distinct presence without being excessive.
Running quietly, at one's own pace. District Vision consistently captures this flow in its unique way.
(3) SOAR RUNNING
Soar Running returns to the essence of running.
This London-based brand, founded by runners, meticulously approaches every detail.
Lightweight, fast, and stripped of unnecessary elements. Every aspect, from the sensation of wearing it to the efficiency during a run, is designed with running itself in mind.
The way they refine all elements, even the unseen ones, based on performance is truly impressive. Soar Running achieves a higher level of completion through that simplicity.
Even with only the essential elements for running remaining, the result looks remarkably sophisticated.
It's impressive how clothes designed for speed also feel like a complete design in themselves.
Soar Running demonstrates how running wear can be stylish in such a minimalist way.
(4) PORTAL
Portal takes a broader view of running.
This project, originating from the outdoor brand ROA, began with a focus on 'movement' itself, rather than a specific sport. Formed by a diverse team including John Roberts and Barry Blueer, the brand views the entire flow, from running to hiking to daily life, as a continuous experience.
It encompasses not just 'running,' but all processes of walking, moving, and staying. Therefore, Portal's apparel is not confined to a single moment.
It's a brand focused on the structure that naturally connects running, daily life, and other movements.
Thus, it emphasizes the sensation of flow between activities rather than defining boundaries. Consequently, their designs tend to blend naturally into the environment rather than standing out ostentatiously.
Low-saturation colors reminiscent of earth, sand, and rock, and structures stripped of unnecessary elements. It's a method where the wearer, moving within the clothing, becomes more distinct, rather than the clothing taking precedence.
Portal's apparel functions less as 'clothes for exercise' and more as a layer that encompasses overall movement. Within this context, Portal continues to interpret running as a lifestyle.
(5) gnuhr
Gnuhr starts from a different point.
This Portland, USA-based brand specializes in ultralight apparel and equipment, founded on the experience of its creator, Noor Abbas, who previously worked at Maison Margiela, Louis Vuitton, Nike, and Yeezy.
While not initially a brand centered on running, its approach to combining functionality and design naturally aligns with the current running scene. It features lightweight, practical structures designed with a focus on actual use, stripped of unnecessary elements. True to its name, it maintains a direction that is as light and concise as 'light'.
This makes it all the more intriguing.
The appeal lies in observing how sensibilities originating from outside running wear seamlessly integrate into the current trend.
It's an approach where function is naturally embedded within form and atmosphere, rather than form being dictated by function. Consequently, Gnuhr's products are not confined to specific situations but flow flexibly across various scenes.
Considering that what people seek in running today is not merely 'clothes for running,' approaches like Gnuhr's are particularly captivating.
This is Why the Current Running Scene is More Exciting
The reason the running scene is more exciting these days isn't just because more people are running. The most significant element of fun seems to be the incorporation of individual approaches.
Some run for records, some for health, and some simply to enjoy the time itself. And now, the element of style has been added.
Today, how one dresses to run is as naturally integrated as how one runs. This makes running appear in far more diverse forms than before.
Perhaps this is why different atmospheres are created within the same activity of 'running.'
© Images courtesy of Seoul Marathon (@seoul_marathon), Kim Wonjin (@keemwj), Bong Tae-gyu (@taegyu_bong), Satisfy Running (@satisfyrunning), SOAR Running (@soar_running), District Vision (@districtvision), PORTAL (@_____portal), GNUHR (@gnuhr_studio) official Instagram, Sports Donga
