SAUCONY CELEBRATES THE REBIRTH OF TRAINER 80
Saucony Celebrates the Rebirth of Trainer 80 by Honouring Communities That are Pushing Culture Forward: Balamii and Your Friendly Runners.
Leading global performance running lifestyle brand Saucony has celebrated the rebirth of its retro-inspired Trainer 80 by honouring two London-based communities that are pushing culture forward: radio station and community hub Balamii and pillars of community running Your Friendly Runners.
Saucony is one of the oldest running brands, often referred to as the ‘Original Running Brand’. From the start, it has been loyal to the sport of running, enhancing its culture by crafting footwear that inspires everyone from top athletes to style enthusiasts. Whether standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the race start line or in the crowd at a gig, running with a crew or gathering at fashion events, community drives Saucony, reflected in its mantra: ‘Run As One’.
Run as One is embodied by diverse creative communities like Balamii and Your Friendly Runners, who, despite having different creative expressions at their core, share many broader interests and values, from fashion to design to running to art to music and more.
“This project with Saucony represents everything Balamii stands for – community and talent,” said James Browning from Balamii, “We are proud to have brought together these incredible emerging artists for a campaign that celebrates heritage style for a new generation.”
“Everything we do at YFR sits at the intersection of running and community, so it felt like a natural alignment to feature in the launch of Saucony’s timeless Trainer 80,” said Matt Horrocks from Your Friendly Runners, “It’s exciting to be bringing back a true OG style that still feels super relevant today.”
Born in 1978, the Trainer 80 didn’t just step onto the scene—it sprinted ahead, integrating high-density EVA foam to revolutionise the running world. Ditching the outdated cardboard layer between the sole and upper delivered a softer, more responsive feel that made every mile smoother. This classic has returned with its retro charm intact and a modern edge. Reimagined for today, the Trainer 80 balances Saucony’s heritage of innovation with street-ready style.
The supporting campaign, directed and photographed by Joe Howat and produced by CANADA, draws inspiration from Saucony’s heritage. It pays tribute to the Trainer 80’s origins in the late 1970s and 1980s while reimagining it for the modern age. The campaign features key members of each London-based community. From Balamii, there are CKTRL, Goya Gumbani, George Riley, Just Jane and Catching Cairo. From Your Friendly Runners, there are Oliver Hooson, Matt Horrocks, Ethan Buttress, Alice Davies and Charlotte McGrath.
The Trainer 80 is available now in a series of vibrant and classic colourways at select retailers and saucony.com.
About Saucony: Saucony, the ‘Original Running Brand’ and a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW), is a leading global performance running brand that fuses innovation, style and culture. Widely recognized for award-winning technologies including PWRRUN™ PB, PWRRUN+™, and SPEEDROLL™, Saucony creates innovative technical and lifestyle footwear and apparel across Road, Trail and Originals. Founded in 1898, Saucony exists to inspire and enable people to live a better life through running culture, self-expression and their impact on the world. For more information, visit www.saucony.com.
About Balamii: is the South London-born radio platform nurturing grassroots talent since 2014. 10 years on, it’s grown into not only a London institution, but a globally recognised cultural cornerstone of the UK music scene. They’ve brought thousands of artists through the doors, and maintain the loyalty of alumni that have gone on to win Mercury Awards, Number 1’s and global recognition. With an ethos grounded in discovery and providing opportunities, Balamii continues to bring through the next generation of UK music. a truly independent platform for the future sound of London and beyond.
