As a self-proclaimed running geek, Ciele Athletics x norda ticks all the right boxes for me.
Born out of a mutual admiration for and exploration of the outdoors, the Canadian duo’s second collaboration is everything you’d expect from two activewear brands currently at the top of their game.
The Gravel collection is said to – as the name suggests – pay homage to the gravel roads that make up the universe of unlimited distances that many runners call a second home, and which plays to the individual strengths of both brands.
First up are the shoes, which feature a limited-edition version of norda’s 001 trail shoe – a silhouette recently remixed by Parisian brand Satisfy.
This time around, the sneaker is doused in hits of gray and soft tan, with a more vibrant hit of orange resting just above the midsole, where Ciele’s signature pattern is also found.
The 001 – which was dubbed by norda as the first sneaker to feature both Dyneema fiber woven into the upper when it launched last year – also features Vibram underfoot and a Megagrip outsole for face the most difficult terrains.
Naturally, the collaboration also includes Ciele’s bread and butter: the headgear. The Montreal brand’s GOCap arrives in a limited-edition co-branded colorway of earthy tones to match the 001 collaboration.
Available on norda and Ciele in limited quantities, the Gravel collection is not just the coming together of two brands that share a passion for exploration, but one that expands the worlds of trail and road running.
There’s often more than meets the eye when two brands come together, which is certainly the case here.
