No. 10 - Côte & Ciel
What they’re best known for: Tastefully designed and expertly crafted backpacks, bags, and accessories.
We wish they'd make: Exploration/adventure gear. Think The North Face with a cleaner, more lux aesthetic.
Parisian accessory specialists Côte & Ciel might not be on your radar yet, but they should be. The brand’s name means “coast and sky”, referencing their French origins and their tendency to pull inspiration from nature. Their minimalistic bags and laptop sleeves are constructed with innovative fabrics like Eco Yarn, Memory Tech, and Diamond Grip. We can only imagine the awesome outdoor exploration gear Côte & Ciel could develop if they really want to live up to their name.
No. 9 - Play Cloths
What they’re best known for: Streetwear with a trendy, modern edge.
We wish they'd make: Old school tracksuits with a 2014 spin.
Pusha T and Malice are no longer recording together, but they still partner up to keep their Play Cloths brand moving forward. Unlike most rapper clothing lines, they’ve managed to keep the brand relevant with on trend patterns, fits, and styles. Play Cloths has numerous takes on the popular jogger pant, but let’s be real, no one is actually running in those. We’d like to see is them take the athletic influence to the max with a collection of moisture wicking tops and pants for running, biking, and training. From Play Cloths to leg day clothes.
No. 8 - En Noir
What they’re best known for: Minimal, monochromatic styles. Lots of black and leather.
We wish they'd make: Murdered out compression pants and other gym gear.
Out of every brand on this list, En Noir might be the least likely to actually take the performance gear route, but how cool would it be if they did? Imagine swapping leather for a lightweight and breathable synthetic fabric, all the while maintaining the dark and drapey look. Can you say #HealthGoth?
No. 7 - John Elliott + Co
What they’re best known for: Slim-fitting hoodies, sweatpants, and tee shirts.
We wish they'd make: Running tights, jackets, and windbreakers with updated fits.
John Elliot + Co has been on fire this year, with a string of successful releases and a recent collaboration with Gap through GQ. If there’s two things these guys know best, it’s perfect fits and cozy knits. Their terry-based sweats are among the most popular of 2014 hypebeast/menswear essentials, and it looks like they’re only getting started. One thing that could really boost their stock would be taking their unique silhouettes to the gym and track, bringing a much needed update to athletic fits.
No. 6 - Carhartt
What they’re best known for: Rugged workwear and boots that can take a serious beating.
We wish they'd make: Trail running shoes with the same rugged, unbreakable builds.
We wouldn’t change many things about Carhartt. The brand has been making some of the toughest work clothes around for over a century, and they’ve got enough off shoots and collaborations to satisfy even the thirstiest hypebeasts' needs. One franchise that’s been especially successful is Carhartt WIP, a lifestyle and skate influenced brand that could benefit from some more tech-based products. But for starters, we'd like to see them dip into the footwear world with some trail running shoes. They've got plenty of hiking boots, but something more equipped for speed could be just the ticket.
No. 5 - Norse Projects
What they’re best known for: Outwear capable of handling the harsh Danish weather.
We wish they'd make: Rainwear with an athletic approach, such as moisture wicking fabrics and breathable vent panels.
In all honesty, many of Norse Projects’ rain jackets and outerwear items could be used for things like running, cycling, and hiking, but we’d like to see them go all out with some technical apparel. Their team are experts are handling wind and weather, so all they need is a breathable, moisture wicking application to make the jump.
No. 4 - Kith
What they’re best known for: Perfecting the jogger pant, Ronnie Fieg’s coveted collabs.
We wish they'd make: A true running collection, from apparel to newer performance sneakers.
Many of Ronnie Fieg’s Kith brand’s items are inspired by athletics; the “East Coast Project” Dolphins/Knicks Asics pack, the “Kith Football Equipment” World Cup pack, and numerous other sneakers and apparel pieces with sport themes. Fieg loves to mix things up, throwing tech fabric panels on hoodies and adding mesh layers to pants, but he’s yet to throw everything into the pot for a full-on performance collection. For starters, we’d like to see him work on some modern running silhouettes.
No. 3 - A.P.C.
What they’re best known for: Minimal, unbranded basics with slim fits.
We wish they'd make: The gym clothes to end all gym clothes.
Minimalism isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and Parisian brand A.P.C. are one of the best doing it. From their incredibly popular jeans to the white tee shirt collaboration with Kanye that set the Internet ablaze, A.P.C. is all about simplistic, clean designs. Meanwhile, today’s athletic gear is oversaturated with bright colors, gaudy logos, and ill-fitting silhouettes. A.P.C. could change the entire fitness game.
No. 2 - Bape
What they’re best known for: The most iconic all-over prints of the last two decades.
We wish they'd make: Jerseys and kits for professional sport teams.
Bape’s popularity has fluctuated in recent years, but that doesn’t make the Japanese brand any less legendary. They were around for the initial explosion of streetwear in the 2000s, and they’ll likely be one of the last brands standing. Over the years, their collections have touched on sports, and in 2014 they even released their own soccer ball and a pair of collaborative cleats with Puma. For a brand that has seemingly done it all, we’d love to see what they could do with performance gear.
No. 1 - Supreme
What they’re best known for: Skate and ‘90s hip-hop infused lifestyle wear.
We wish they'd make: Biking and skating go hand in hand, so a collection catered to cyclists would be a good start.
Aside from Stussy, there isn’t a single streetwear brand that has been able to maintain their prominence over time the way that Supreme has. With biyearly The North Face collaborations and countless quirky accessories like Mizuno baseball bats and hand grips, the NYC skateboard kings are probably also the closest of any of these brands to actual athletic apparel. Still, their lifestyle offerings tend to outweigh their performance product, and as much as we love their heavyweight hoodies, the only thing better would be a box logo running jacket.
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