adidas x Universal Works | City Run Pack

Running is a very personal sport for many people, me included. Most runners have their own likes and rituals about running and their own favourite kit. I wanted to make comfortable kit with no compromise on performance which would also look great, garments that could work on a run or on the street. A proper urban influenced 'run city pack', to represent the way we think and feel about running.

 I was lucky that the shoe adidas wanted me to work on was my current favourite running shoe and top end of adidas performance, Ultra Boost. Whilst we could not compromise the performance of the shoe we added a few extra special Universal Works touches, of fabric inlay on the collar, a tonal suede three stripe cage, and pull up tags in suede also. Inside the shoe is a luxury leather foot-bed, our hint to the running and none running use of the shoes; lastly an outsole with a sense of humour, a digital camo in tonal colours to the upper.

Taking inspiration from the Ultra Boost Primeknit upper for the kit, we worked mostly with knitted fabrics for style, performance and comfort. We spent a lot of time perfecting the fit of all the pieces, with some based on adidas shapes and some on Universal Works.

The core fabric was a technical polyester yarn adidas had developed for their running kit, and an unusual choice for our shorts and gilet. Both garments, we hope, will become some of your favourite sports kit, super comfortable for that long Saturday run, or just hanging out in the living room with the kids and the TV !

The long sleeve t-shirt in a wool and recycled polyester blend is soft next to the skin, with the wool better at regulating temperatures in all conditions and helping to keep the odours at bay.

Basing the run jacket on our Fistral jacket a great piece in a soft, light weight, water resistant, adidas tech fabric, perfect for both running or the morning commute, a jacket suitable for sports or social wear.

We added some essential accessories, run tights (to be worn under shorts), a comfortable waist pack for those needing keys and a phone, and of course, no UW kit would be complete without a HAT! Our favourite running accessory is a  trucker hat to keep the sun/rain off the face, the sweat out of the eyes and the wearer looking like the coolest runner this side of Forest Gump!

All very Universal Works we think; all with a subtle set of three stripes making a collaboration we are proud of and designed with a real love of running and the joy of good looking kit post-run. 

The adidas x Universal Works Run City Pack will be available for purchase on the 23rd of November in very limited numbers from our Lambs Conduit Street Store 11:00 GMT and online at 10:00 GMT. 

 Check out the film we worked on with adidas and read more on David’s reasons behind the collaboration.