The Gear for Good content series is an exploration into the lifecycle of our running gear. We’ve collaborated with Preloved Sports, Reskinned, Alpine Run Project and Protect Our Winters UK to pull back the curtain on the environmental cost of the “new drop” culture and celebrate the beauty of the gear we already own.
Authenticity is at the heart of this project. All our models are volunteers from within the running community, giving their time to advocate for a more sustainable future. This series was captured through the lens of photographer Lily Miles, supported by Holly Frampton, who both volunteered their creative talents to bring these stories to life.
Juliette, 34
Occupation: Marketing Consultant
The Goal: Training for my second attempt at a 100km race
High energy and pure personality. Despite being bleary-eyed from a Morocco trip and heading to a movie premiere later this evening, Juliette is the spark plug of the group.
“I don’t necessarily think about reclaiming the trails, but I do think they are inherently a space that has always felt less welcoming for people of colour. When I’m out there in nature finding so much joy, I often wish more people of colour, and particularly women of colour, felt confident to come into these spaces too. I feel a responsibility to be vocal and challenge the things that might be seen as barriers.
Juliette is wearing kit from Reskinned, a UK-based circular fashion service that takes back, repairs, sanitises, and resells or recycles worn-out clothing to give it a second life and prevent landfill waste.
“I don’t necessarily think about reclaiming the trails, but I do think they are inherently a space that has always felt less welcoming for people of colour. When I’m out there in nature finding so much joy, I often wish more people of colour, and particularly women of colour, felt confident to come into these spaces too. I feel a responsibility to be vocal and challenge the things that might be seen as barriers.
There is a level of confidence that comes with feeling good in your kit, but for me, it’s as much about function as it is about the aesthetic. Sure, “look good, feel good” applies, but I also want to turn up to the start line knowing my shoes have the right grip and my waterproof will keep me dry in a downpour. There is a rise of brands bringing out kit for trails that looks aesthetically pleasing but isn’t actually waterproof. That feels performative and is actually quite risky if used in the wrong way.
The biggest thing is finding kit which works for you and then looking after it. Once I find something that works, I wear it until I literally can’t get any more use out of it. I’ll even try to find creative ways to give it more life, like repairing a rip or a pocket. When I’m offered new kit drops, I only say yes if I think I need it, and if there’s ever gear I can’t use, I make sure to donate it to fellow runners or charities.
I’m not too sentimental about gear, but the reality is that a lot of my kit tells a story. I’ll be out on a run and realise I’m in the same shorts I wore for a marathon, and it helps me remember what I’m capable of. The only constants are two pieces of jewellery given to me by my sister: a gold ring and a gold necklace. They remind me of all the support I have around me when I take on something difficult.
“I feel a responsibility to be vocal and challenge the things that might be seen as barriers”
My “why” goes back to 2017 when I lost a close friend to a brain tumour. She was only 26 and there was so much she didn’t get the chance to do. My “why” is because I can, because I get to, and because I don’t want to get to a time when I can’t and wish I had. It’s ironic because she really didn’t like sports or running at all. When people ask if I think of her when I’m struggling, the answer is yes, but I think of her being like, “WTF, what are you doing? Don’t be doing this in my name! Have a day off and go lie down”. It makes me smile and keeps me grounded.”
The Deep Dive: The Consumer Habits
In the UK, the average runner spends nearly £190 a year on gear, often driven by seasonal “drops” rather than necessity.
The Facts:
- Underutilised: The average person in the UK owns 57 items of clothing they no longer wear.
- The Microplastic Leak: Every time we wash synthetic kit, it sheds microfibres. Laundry alone releases half a million tonnes of plastic microfibres into the ocean yearly.
- The “Performance” Myth: You don’t need a £150 carbon-plated shoe to run your local 5k.
All data courtesy of: Joanna Czutkowna, 5Thread; Dr. Elisabeth Allen and Lena Bartoszewicz, University of Manchester; Jordan Bunker, social content creator.
Don’t let the marketing machine tell you that you don’t belong. We prioritise “keep-at-it” over “kit-it-out.” Join The Green Runners today to protect the places we love to run.
Credits:
- Model: Juliette Denny, ambassador for Protect Our Winters UK
- Photography: Lily Miles
- Photography Assistant: Holly Frampton
- Clothing supplied by: Reskinned