The collaboration features a selection of mental health awareness courses along with co-branded footwear and apparel.
Boston, MA – March 9, 2022 – Today, New Balance has officially launched a collaboration with Los Angeles-based inner peace collective, District Vision, with a collection of technical apparel and footwear, and a series of micro-courses that aim to provide consumers with tools designed to increase mental health awareness through running.
The micro-courses focus on education through a range of mindfulness topics that aim to help runners explore their minds. The first of these micro-courses will feature Team New Balance athletes Emily Sisson and Brenda Martinez on what they do as professional athletes to get over mental hurdles. New Balance ambassador, rapper, actor and mental health awareness advocate, GaTa, will be featured as he discusses how his recent introduction to the sport of running shifted his approach to mental wellness. These micro-courses will launch on District Vision’s website on Friday, March 11, 2022. Each course will be available for $10 USD.
“We believe in a holistic approach to athleticism and the idea that, in addition to function-first and performance enhancing products, mental wellbeing is at the core of physical exercise, especially running,” says District Vision co-founder Tom Daly. “We are thrilled about the opportunity to work with a heritage running brand, like New Balance, on a collaboration that goes beyond just product. It is our hope that consumers will gain a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be a “mindful athlete” and learn how running can be used as one tool in their mental wellbeing journey,” says District Vision co-founder Max Vallot.
New Balance and District Vision hope to redefine what a collaboration between two performance and fashion crossover brands can accomplish. The tools consumers will have access to aim to offer long-term benefits beyond the physical results of running.
“This collaboration is a testament to both New Balance and District Vision’s commitment to providing consumers with the tools and knowledge they need to better themselves holistically,” says Kevin Fitzpatrick, Global Director of Performance Marketing at New Balance. “Through these micro-courses we continue to put mental health awareness at the forefront, along with our most innovative footwear and apparel. We hope through this collaboration with District Vision we can continue to bring attention to the importance of mental health and show how running can be one of many useful tools for one's mental and physical wellbeing.”
The New Balance and District Vision collection comprises technical design characteristics, organic hand-drawn design elements from renowned artist Filip Pagowski, and mindful aesthetics to make up a functional and artistic uniform. The collection is made up of two colorways of the FuelCell RC Elite v2 and a range of technical apparel pieces including: the Impact Run Light Pack Jacket, Impact Run Long Sleeve Tee, Q Speed Sherpa Anorak, Impact Run Singlet, 3” Impact Run Short, Q Speed 9” Inch Half Tight, and 3” Impact Run Split Short.
The collection will be available exclusively at districtvision.com on Thursday, March 17, with suggested retail pricing ranging from $55 USD to $220 USD. The collection will launch globally on newbalance.com on Thursday, March 24. Make sure to follow @newbalancerunning and @districtvision for all of the latest updates and creative content.
About New Balance
New Balance Athletics, headquartered in Boston, MA has the following mission: Demonstrating responsible leadership, we build global brands that athletes are proud to wear, associates are proud to create and communities are proud to host. Manufactured in the U.S. for more than 75 years and representing a limited portion of our U.S. sales, New Balance MADE U.S. is a premium collection that contains a domestic value of 70% or greater. New Balance owns five factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs more than 7,000 associates around the globe, and in 2021 reported worldwide sales of $4.4 billion. To learn more about New Balance, please visit www.newbalance.com and for the latest press information please visit http://newbalance.newsmarket.com.
About District Vision
District Vision makes tools for mindful athletes, including sports eyewear, apparel and meditation courses. Based in Los Angeles, the company was founded by Tom Daly and Max Vallot in 2016 and remains 100% independent. Through the Center for Inner Peace, our mission is to make the world of sports more mindful.