Can Zara build a slow fashion running brand worthy of fast runners?

Zara, the fast fashion behemoth has launched an Athleticz startup brand, including affordable high-tech running shoes. Can we trust this gear to run a marathon in?

Despite the barefooted road runners, the zero-drop movement, the finger toes, and every other extreme running shoe doctrine out there, the carbon-plated marathoner conversation still reigns supreme, and Zara has joined it.

It’s been a couple of weeks since the Spanish multinational fast fashion retailer launched a range of running apparel and became the talk of the town. While everyone had varying opinions on the accusations of stealing garment designs from indie brands, which I discussed last week, what I want to dig into today is the recent release of the Long-Distance Running Sneaker.

The marathon shoe is the thing that every runner I spoke to was the most wary of, so I asked Erik Coca Gonzalez-Albo, the lead footwear designer for the Zara Athleticz range why we should trust Zara with the only essential part of a runner’s wardrobe.