SuperNatural Runners step into the limelight
Circle Sportswear’s Merino wool SuperNatural Runners, which embody both performance and sustainability, were officially launched in Paris in the lead up to the Olympics. They have a very special ambassador: three-time Olympic champion Marie-José Pérec, a French sporting legend who lit the cauldron at the Paris Olympics in July.
In a collaboration which positioned Australian Merino wool as the ultimate performance fibre ahead of and during the Olympic Games in Paris, The Woolmark Company supported French sports and lifestyle brand Circle Sportswear to launch its wool sneaker range in Paris in June. Founded in 2020, Circle Sportswear is a pioneering brand with a priority on minimising the environmental impact of its products.
The upper and the tongue of the SuperNatural Runner are crafted from 65% Australian Merino wool blended with TENCELTM (a fibre derived from wood pulp) for durability. In contrast to an upper with a knitted structure (as used in most running shoes), the SuperNatural Runner’s upper is woven, which allows for extra toughness. The shoe is fitted with a 100% Merino wool lining, while the insole and laces are made from a Merino wool blend. The other parts of the shoe are also natural – including a midsole made from castor beans, and an outsole made from a tree rubber.
The new Woolmark-certified shoe not only harnesses the eco benefits of Merino wool, it also takes advantage of the fibre’s natural performance benefits such as thermoregulation, moisture management, breathability and odour resistance.
“Our in-house technical team worked collaboratively on the development of the shoe’s upper, helping to create this high-performance running shoe that aligns with the market trend towards sustainability. This is an example of how AWI is introducing the use of Merino wool in new markets to build demand for Australian wool,” said AWI Regional Manager Western Europe, Damien Pommeret.
“The official launch of the SuperNatural Runners in Paris, and the wonderful support of high profile French Olympian and athletics legend Marie-José Pérec, generated great publicity and was perfectly timed as the world’s gaze fell upon the Olympic Games.”
More information: www.circlesportswear.com
Olympian Marie-José Pérec backs SuperNatural Runners
Marie-José Pérec wearing her SuperNatural Runners while carrying the Olympic torch when the torch relay visited the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe. PHOTO: Paris 2024 / Sydney-James Auguiac
Marie-José Pérec with her SuperNatural Runners in July at the Circle store in Paris. PHOTO: Hugo Wirth
Nicknamed ‘La Gazelle’ for her graceful running style, French sporting legend and three-time gold medallist at the Olympics, Marie-José Pérec, is one of the greatest sprinters in history. Her wins at Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996) might be three decades ago, but she is still a big celebrity in France. To an international audience, she hit prominence again most recently when she lit the Olympic cauldron at the start of the Paris Olympics in July.
Marie-José is also an ambassador for Circle Sportswear, with which she shares an interest in the environment, and she is often seen wearing her SuperNatural Runners. Most prominently, she wore them during the Olympic Torch Relay in June when she delivered the torch to the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, where she was born 56 years ago. She also wore the them during her high profile running of the 10 km event of the Paris 2024 Mass Participation Marathon during the Olympics in August.
Always keen to promote the SuperNatural Runners, she talks during media interviews and posts on her Instagram about her running experience in the footwear and the natural performance benefits that the Merino wool provides.
“I am delighted to partner with Circle Sportswear, a brand that shares my values and commitment to a more planet-friendly sport,” said Marie José Pérec. “Together, we are working to promote more sustainable running and to support the next generation of athletes.”
“The SuperNatural Runner and the partnership with The Woolmark Company are part of this innovative approach that favours both performance and sustainability.”
- Marie-José Pérec, three-time Olympic champion sprinter
This article appeared in the September 2024 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.
