Five Things You Didn’t Know About District Vision
Merging performance eyewear, technical apparel, and mindfulness, District Vision has redefined what it means to run with purpose. Born in New York, the brand blends elite-level engineering with sleek, street-ready aesthetics, crafting high-performance eyewear and gear for athletes who demand more.
Beyond its minimalist, race-optimized designs, District Vision is built on research, innovation, and a deep connection to the runner’s mind-body experience. Whether it’s its handcrafted Japanese eyewear, collaborative projects, or meditation-driven philosophy that infuses their running apparel and gear, there’s more to this brand than meets the eye. Here's five things you probably didn’t know about the brand that runners love.
Above: The Nagata Speed Blade from District Vision is a four base frame with a classic aviator shape designed to protect the eyes and enhance the field of vision.
1. Wellness Nerds: Founders Max Vallot and Tom Daly started the brand after practising meditation to recover from burnout in fashion.
2. Mindfulness & Running Mash-Up: The brand’s motto? “Peace of mind through sport.” They run mental health workshops and meditation for athletes. You can even sign up for a series of audio recordings by different coaches to help with practicing the art of mindfulness, especially when it comes to sports.
For example, the late and great Mike Spino, former director of the Esalen Sports Center, teaches some of the primary techniques of his ‘Beyond Jogging’ method in this District Vision Tapes course. With instruction designed to optimize performance and enhance the overall athletic experience, Spino draws on strong spiritual foundations and insights cultivated through decades of writing, coaching world-class athletes, and leading workshops at Esalen Institute and beyond.
Spino was the author of the cult running manual ‘Beyond Jogging: The Innerspaces of Running’, originally published in 1976 and re-released by District Vision in 2018. Check out the tapes here.
Above: District Vision's lightweight, breathable apparel is designed for maximum comfort and performance in all athletic pursuits, offering odor and moisture management a supportive yet barely-there feel.
“Our first experiment was initiated in 2014 when we started testing sports eyewear technology with a group of downtown runners. Combining real-life feedback with Japanese engineering, the Keiichi running sunglass system was born – a proprietary solution for athletes, handmade in Japan.”
—Max Vallot and Tom Daly of District Vision
Above: The Nagata Speed Blade frame is constructed from TR90 injected nylon with beta titanium armature and hardware, and features signature D+ therapeutic grade lenses, constructed from a proprietary form of shatterproof polycarbonate.
3. Strikingly sleek solutions: Their performance sunglasses were inspired by feedback from ultramarathon runners who complained about sweaty lenses during 12-hour races. Their snazzy Junya Racer - Carbon/D+ Spectral Mirror features a six base frame that wraps close to the head for the highest level of visual clarity and protection at speed.
Fitted with a hand sculpted lens and custom shaped temples for running and cycling. The frame features D+ lens technology, an adjustable hypoallergenic rubber nose pad and temple tips with a titanium core.
4. Ultra Origins: Their first sunglasses were designed for runners tackling ultra-marathons in Death Valley. Heat and glare were just no match.
Above: The Kazu Tourer features strategically ventilated lenses, an inlaid titanium bridge badge, and integrated side shields to mitigate ambient light and glare, assisting the wearer in focusing on the terrain ahead, free of distraction.
5. Limited Editions: District Vision often collaborates with artists and designers for one-off pieces. They’re as much art as athletic gear. Check out their Kazu Tourer Purple/D+ Blue Ice. Inspired by the 1960's and 1970's alpine style movement in mountaineering, the Kazu Tourer (those slick-looking shades above) is the result of a collaboration between Tracksmith and District Vision, two projects with strong foundations in running.
Interested in levelling up on your A game? Check out more District Vision at The Pace @ Funan, or shop District Vision here.