TRACKSMITH RE-RELEASES FIRST FIVE PRODUCTS EVER CREATED FOR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

To celebrate its five-year anniversary, the Boston-based independent running label Tracksmith is re-releasing the first five products it ever produced.

“When we launched, it was almost impossible to find a piece of quality running gear that wasn’t overly tech-y and neon,” explained Matt Taylor, founder of Tracksmith. “Our first collection was 100 percent performance-driven, but with a sense of style that hadn’t been seen in running for decades. The colors were inspired by the natural beauty of New England, while the classic cuts paid homage to old Ivy League track uniforms. That mix of old school style and new school performance clearly struck a chord with other runners – the first collection sold out in just a few short weeks. And now we’re thrilled to be bringing it back.”

The Five Year Anniversary Collection revisits the first five Tracksmith pieces. First up is the limited-edition Anniversary Five Pack, which features re-prints of the five-best-selling graphics from the last five years in new colors.

Next up is the Factory Floor Spike Bag, which is made from cotton shirting scraps, rather than the typical nylon. Only 150 anniversary Spike Bags have been made, and no two are exactly alike.

Named after New York’s Van Cortlandt Park, one of the East Coast’s most prestigious cross-country venues, the Van Cortlandt Singlet is a classic racing tank done-up in a moisture-wicking performance mesh. The signature sash is inspired by the Cornell Track and Field sashing ceremonies of the early 20th century, in which satin sashes were sewn on the singlets of runners who scored at the league championships.

Made from the same performance mesh as the Van Cortlandt Singlet, and equipped with an odor-blocking liner, the not-too-short / not-too-long Van Cortlandt Shorts have become the signature Tracksmith bottom.

Last but not least, the Longfellow Shorts, which are a knee-length, trouser-style short is the last item of the celebratory collection.

Adds Taylor, “Running – true, competitive running – is one of humanity’s great levelers. And while the world has changed dramatically in the five years since we’ve launched, it’s reassuring to know that running hasn’t. It’s still just you and the road in front of you.”

Tracksmith’s Five Year Anniversary Collection is available now from tracksmith.com and the brand’s Boston flagship store, The Trackhouse. Prices start at $60.