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Our monthly round-up of the best things brewing in run culture
The past month’s best running drops, collaborations, and special releases
Literary Sport, Brooks, Adidas, Hermanos Koumori, Nike, Aesene, Minted, Rabbit, Research Studios, Raide
In our heads, July is the moment when we realize half the year has gone by; we crossed the imaginary line from “just starting” to “hurry up.” For many, this means the clock is ticking for fall racing, and that the training will get harder but also more enjoyable as the heat peaks. Enjoy it while it lasts because it won’t be long.
In the meantime, here are our favorite new releases from this month:
It’s easy bein’ plaid
We have been waiting for this one since we saw the preview in January; one of the best collections from Literary Sport. The dark tartan and lapis blue inspiration appears on everything from pants and jackets to shorts, making the pieces feel truly unique. There is also a new button-up made from a lightweight nylon-elastane blend with the swag of a rockstar who happens to be a runner. Pieces that you can start layering as the summer dies off.
Shoes fit for a king
Kerr made history by breaking the World Record for the men’s mile, but Brooks also made him a custom Cascadia 1 to wear off the track. The shoe was full of personal touches, like an abstract, monochrome interpretation of the Kerr family tartan for his Scottish roots, the Brooks Beasts logo for the team that shaped him, a “Josh Kerr World Champion” tongue tag, and a heritage-style embroidered label carrying his signature and a track icon, pulled from the Brooks archive. Even his namesake is woven in through refined finishing details that coordinate with accompanying apparel.
Get in the game
Bangkok retailer Carnival’s collab with Adidas nailed the nostalgia vibes with the Adizero Evo SL. The drop is inspired by retro gaming, nodding to the N64/PlayStation colors: a grey mesh upper, colored “buttons,” and console-themed packaging with a co-branded stopwatch. It made many of us salivate.
Getting festive
As part of the Mexico City Half Marathon, the Mexican brand collaborated with electronic music festival Mutek to create a dynamic space that invites movement and exploration. Through a series of audiovisual installations, the act of running is transformed into an exercise in contemplation and listening. The space also serves as a pop-up for their limited-edition capsule and weekend events.
What’s French for camouflage?
The drop turns the granite and limestone surrounding Chamonix into a genuinely convincing grey-and-green camouflage. The print stretches across a full apparel range and five trail shoes: the ACG Ultrafly, Zegama Trail, Pegasus Trail, Wildhorse, and Terra Kiger. It’s a camo built to disappear into a specific place.
Big Brain Apparel
Minted New York’s Synapse collection centers on the idea that repeated, controlled difficulty can reshape how the brain responds to effort. The concept is translated into a series of abstract neurological prints across lightweight performance pieces, alongside two new LinoCotton tees.
April Showers bring…
Rabbit’s Performance Floral collection gives its race-day system a noticeably louder visual identity through an oversized rose print. The graphic appears across singlets, bras, crops, shorts, and accessories, including the new Go Time Crop Singlet and close-fitting Tempo Crop Top. The florals bring personality to the kit without turning it into a lifestyle-only capsule.
Seeing red
Aesene’s fourth drop builds its identity around the direct, emotionally charged phrase “My Heart Is Racing.” True red becomes the collection’s anchor, appearing across mesh tops, performance shorts, and sports bras, while white graphic tees use contrasting red typography to carry the message more literally. The second delivery expands the concept with additional mesh layers.
Oh, so shady
Research Studio’s new Pace colorway was developed with Ka Yo’s experimental in-house line. The 3D-printed frame combines a sculptural profile with peripheral coverage, an ergonomic unisex fit, silicone nose pads, and lightly mirrored lenses. The volcanic-grey frame and sharp yellow details give the technical construction a deliberately alien character.
Protection from everything
Built for runners who want reliable weather protection without giving up the limited space in a running belt. Made from a 45gsm three-layer Japanese fabric with a five-micron polyurethane membrane, it delivers full waterproof and breathable performance while packing down to an unusually compact size. Fully welded seams, compact zippers, and a protective hood complete a shell designed to stay out of the way until conditions change.
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Alfredo is a runner, writer, creative director, and cultural analyst based in Berlin. After years as a casual runner, his move to Berlin transformed his running into a vital practice for mental health and a source of tranquility during cold, early morning runs. His interest in clothes comes from uniforms and sportswear, combined with a love for innovation and research—which might explain why he meticulously charts his winter running gear.
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