For regular readers of The Field and other publications of its ilk, we'll explain Tracksmith as succinctly as possible. It's a Boston-based lifestyle running brand co-founded by Matt Taylor and Luke Scheybeler, a co-founder and former creative director of Rapha who played an instrumental role in developing the elite cycling brand's signature aesthetic. Though no longer with either brand, Scheybeler's influince remains evident, while Taylor continues to push the brand forward as CEO. Given that primer, it's not hard to grasp what Tracksmith is about. They too make high-quality, high-performance running apparel for men and women that won't make you look like Dri-Fit terminator.
First things first: Tracksmith is about racing. As a distinct counterpoint to all-encompassing West Coast fitness brands like The Swoosh, Tracksmith stands proudly behind its New England roots and draws direct inspiration from Ivy League competitive running and classic American menswear. Their autumn lookbook falls just a few mustaches short of a 1970's Harvard track meet—heavy on short-shorts and singlets. The twist is that Tracksmith takes these classic silhouettes and applies a restrained amount of technology to improve fit and functionality. The result? A range of functional running apparel with a minimal and non-technical aesthetic. It's eminently wearable and feels like it's going to last forever.
Rapha has done well to turn cycling into a "lifestyle" without sacrificing performance (though at price markup for sure). One can only wonder if running is next up to take the lifestyle concept plunge. With this in mind, on a recent nippy November morning we put a few key pieces from the Tracksmith fall line through 20 laps in the heart of Brooklyn, followed by coffee, of course.