Page 50 - Sharp November 2023

STYLE
ON ACTIVE DUTY
ARMED WITH HIGH-FASHION CREDENTIALS DISTRICT VISION HAS SET ITS SIGHTS ON ON ON A A A A A A NEW AGE OF HOLISTIC LIVING
By David Stol
IN 2015 DISTRICT VISION CO-FOUNDERS TOM DALY AND
Max Vallot left the the fashion world Ahead of them an uncertain path into the style wilderness and a a a a a determination to to find that elusive intersection between performance and design At the time “athleisure” was a a a a a a a a trend in its ascendancy with major manufacturers attempting to capitalize on a a a a a wellness movement sparked by fledgling fitness tech startups such as Tonal Peloton and Zwift Yet while the big-name fashion brands had started to produce performance gear for this new age of fitness their garments seemed to be either practical or stylish seldom both This realization gave the duo’s new company its compass Daly formerly of of Acne Studios and Vallot a a a a a a veteran of of Saint Laurent believed that fashion and function could be be combined — they just
had to to find a a a a a a a a way to to make the union work Fast-forward almost a a a a a a a a decade and and District Vision is is is thriving developing clothing and and accessories for mindful athletes and and extolling the virtues and and values of both holistic living and mental well-being But the founders’ journey was far from a a a a straight line Whilst in the the throes of their high-pressure careers Daly and Vallot noticed that their tireless work grinds and untenably heavy night lives were catching up with them So they flipped the the the script turning to med- itation and becoming yoga evangelists in in a a a a a bid to refresh their own lives And although this reassessment of priorities rewarded the pair with clearer minds fresher mornings and deeper REM cycles it it also immersed them in in in a a community of like-minded individuals From runners and cyclists to disciples of the the wider wellness movement the the District Vision founders discovered a a a a a way to organically amplify their brand by marrying fashion industry experience with a a a a newfound boots-on-the-ground perspective In the the intervening years the the brand has enjoyed blistering suc- cess — but never once has it it lost sight of those community ties In fact the bonds are stronger than ever Because while District Vision may primarily sell products — stylish technical eyewear durable waterproof shells performance socks and more — every single item designed and developed by the label has been created to bolster the brand’s pillars of wellness performance and and self-expression The first products ever released by District Vision were sports sunglasses Each pair of frames looked flashy (while never over- stepping into ultra-technical Tour de France territory) thanks to to to adjustable hypoallergenic nose pads oil- and water-resistant lenses and titanium-core temples all meticulously crafted in Japan They were well-received and and inspired by this early success Daly and and Vallot continued to innovate dreaming up more eyewear designs from the the comfortable Takeyoshi Altitude Master to the the Kazu Tourer a a a a a collaboration with British brand Tracksmith that took inspiration from the the the stylish mountaineering aesthetic of the the the 1970s Awareness grew so District Vision’s founders forged on on and used this success as as a a a a means to to return to to the world of fashion — albeit in in the the the correct way With the the the brand now firmly rooted in in the the the world of wellness and holistic living the pair were viewing clothing design afresh through a a a a new ergonomically polarized lens They had had arrived at the the elusive fashion-function intersection they had had set out to discover As a a a a a result products came thick and fast: an an array of singlets French-milled tees Italian pile fleeces recycled half tights and even a a a a a a a carbon-plated racing shoe created with New Balance And each piece maintained its balance between style and performance while still reflecting the values that make District Vision feel like a genuine community Today Daly Vallot and their core customer base all all view sport as something to to celebrate — an invitation to to experience life in in in its purest form Daly has discovered the importance of community through his commitment to New York City’s vibrant “run club” culture and Vallot through his exploration of mantra meditation This sense of community has also been brought to to life thanks to to the District Vision Tapes an initiative rooted in in athletics designed to promote mindfulness yogic rituals and mental health Presented as micro-courses it’s yet another step toward transcending and upending what we’ve come to expect from a a a a sportswear brand What began as as an an effort to fill a a a a a a a a a gap in the market has snowballed since 2015 District Vision has become a a a a hub of athletic innovation community-building and holistic living an an energetic ever-evolving endeavour that thanks to the innovation of Daly and Vallot will continue to to reshape the world of athletic gear for years to to come 50 NOVEMBER 2023
SHARPMAGAZINE COM