When Max Vallot and Tom Daly first got into running, it was primarily as a hangover cure. They\u2019d link up to do laps around Regent\u2019s Park in London together to cleanse themselves of indie nights out when they were studying at business school. But a few years down the line in 2013, they found themselves deep in New York\u2019s sleepless fashion scene, with Vallot working for Saint Laurent and Daly working for Acne Studios. Disillusioned with the pace and nightlife-heavy culture, Daly took his running to the next level and began training for marathons, while Vallot took up meditation as a way to deal with stress.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the beginning of our ongoing exploration,\u201d Vallot says, explaining how he began teaching a series of DIY meditation workshops to Daly\u2019s running crew, who\u2019d grown interested in how mindfulness could help their performance. \u201cWe had no idea what we were doing, but it sparked something \u2014\u00a0an idea for a new kind of sportswear brand that was both connected to our fashion backgrounds, but also mindfulness and a slower and more intentional, technical approach to product.\u201d<\/p>\n
This idea became District Vision: a brand they founded as a side project in 2015, which built \u201ctools for mindful athletes\u201d and connected mental wellbeing with sports performance \u2014\u00a0long before the mind-body connection became a mainstream wellness trend. The duo began with a line of precision-engineered technical eyewear, before expanding into technical apparel in 2018, soon becoming an \u2018if you know, you know\u2019 status symbol among the fashion-conscious running crowd, a market that\u2019s grown<\/a> in tandem with the brand.<\/p>\n DJ and producer Peggy Gou, wearing District Vision sunglasses.<\/span>Photo: Courtesy of District Vision.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n District Vision\u2019s growth has accelerated to 50% year-on-year since 2024, as running continues to take over mainstream culture. Just last week, a record 1.3 million people signed up to run the 2027 London Marathon through the public ballot, breaking last year\u2019s record by around 200,000. The global running gear market is projected to reach almost $70 billion by 2032, up from $45 billion in 2024. Running\u2019s popularity as a means for offline connection is surging among the broader population, too \u2014\u00a0the number of new running clubs nearly quadrupled in 2025 to one million, according to exercise tracking platform Strava.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"DJ](\"https:\/\/assets.vogue.com\/photos\/6a01e5714d9b7aa52a413c34\/master\/w_1600%2Cc_limit\/district-vision-vogue-business-story-inline%2520copy%25202%2520(1).jpg\"\/)
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