Swedish running brand UNNA’s latest offering is guaranteed to make you smile

For Swedish running brand UNNA, the road is paved with endorphins and good vibes. That’s especially true of its spring offering. Encapsulated by the phrase ‘Smiles over Miles’ the spring drop (the brand doesn’t exactly work with collections, but rather relevant product releases) and accompanying campaign celebrates the brand’s running community, charmingly dubbed the Smiles Run Club. As UNNA founder John-Ruben Holtback puts it, the running club is really “at the heart of what we do”. “This phrase and club serve as a reminder not to take things too seriously,” he says. “We’re all better off counting smiles over miles, and we’re not focused on finishing first but finishing in a good place.”

As Holtback tells it, discovering running did more than lift his spirits. Following a health scare in 2014, in which he was hospitalised with swollen intestines, Holtback underwent surgery. After being discharged without a proper diagnosis (and following a subsequent trip to the hospital), things still didn’t feel quite right. “After many weeks without a diagnosis, out of frustration, I decided that only I could be responsible for my own health,” he says. “I tried many things to feel better, but only one thing stood out far beyond any other: running.” After that, “everything fell into place” – better sleep, better health, better mood. Holtback founded UNNA in hopes of spreading that same feeling. “Today, I move for my well-being and the love of peace of mind,” he says.

The good vibes extend to the garments themselves, which are made of lightweight, certified materials that emphasise sustainability. Take, for instance, the Smiles Windbreaker. Rendered in an extra lightweight recycled Italian polyester, it can be packed into a pouch tiny enough to put in one’s pocket. “Since the Swedish climate is a bit shaky and we tend to get a bit hotter when running, this is a convenient and a nice feature,” notes Holtback. Elsewhere, unexpected silhouettes – wide-legged trousers and cropped long sleeves emblazoned with the phrase “romance running” – make for looks that travel effortlessly from the office to the trail. “You don’t have to wear super tight stuff showing off everything all the time,” says Holtback, noting that female runners can reach for the mens pieces if they want an even more relaxed fit.

UNNA’s spring pieces are available now via the brand's website and sports retailer KA-YO. Just accessorise with a smile.