Looking for well-designed and correct fitting activewear in Hong Kong? Miss Runner designs pieces that are the perfect mix of chic and functional
Physical activities help nurture a healthy immune system and increased mental well-being, that’s why we enjoy doing water sports and hiking in Hong Kong. But before you hit the gym, it’s essential to find the right sportswear for your workout routine. We interviewed Tania Cheung, founder of local activewear brand Miss Runner, to find out why she’s in the business of creating edgy sportswear, sports bras and yoga pants for edgy women in Hong Kong.
Hi Tania. Great to talk with you. Tell us, what kind of person is Miss Runner made for?
The brand’s name reflects the courageous character of the women we design for, as opposed to simply a woman who runs. Miss Runner clients will never be satisfied where they are, they’re always looking to be a step ahead of their peers and running towards challenges, instead of running away from them.
What inspired you to establish the brand in the first place?
Miss Runner was founded in March, 2015, with just one purpose: to merge wearable arts with performance sportswear. The reason why I created Miss Runner is because when I moved back to Hong Kong, as a really active person, I was shopping for sportswear everywhere, and I just couldn’t find anything that suited my criteria, which was quite simple – a sports bra that is supportive and looks good at the same time. What I found is that a lot of the commercial brands are making a female silhouette very flat-chested, and there’s a lot of things that you can fix in terms of basic patterns and cutting.
How do the prints from Miss Runner stand out from the rest?
I graduated from the London College of Fashion with a fashion design degree. So with skills in pattern cutting, production and more, I’m able to do something more meaningful than just a sportswear line.
I connect with a different artist every season to collaborate on the print. From there, I expanded more into motivating and connecting with the wellness community. So far we’ve worked with illustrators, graphic designers, photographers and such. In the wellness community, we’ve collaborated with food and beverage people, yoga instructors who have their own style, like hip hop, bamboo and aerial art. I think we’ve been really innovative along the journey.
How would you describe the style of Miss Runner?
In terms of style, it’s vibrant and lively. Each print will speak to different kinds of people, whether you are into monochrome or playful patterns like the Unicorn Collection. With Miss Runner, you can always find your place, you’ll always find your print, you’ll just stand out from other people.
Do you design for bodies of all sizes?
Yes. We have different sizes. Our sports bras offer different support, from low to high support. So if you’re big in terms of cup sizes, you can opt for high support. If you’re of smaller cup sizes and are looking for some yoga type of medium support, you can go for the lower support.
Our leggings are medium to high waisted, all of our waistband are designed to flatter the female body, so you don’t show your muffin top from the leggings. A lot of the leggings are not designed to fit a female body shape, that’s what Miss Runner is able to do. We can fit different kinds of body shapes, no matter if you’re petite or curvy.
What is the most popular product at Miss Runner?
Our products range from sport bras to yoga mats, and the most popular item right now would be our travel mat. When I first launched it, I was looking for something that was practical, and I found a machine washable and biodegradable material! And we don’t use PVC in any of our yoga mats; they are made from 100 per cent natural tree rubber too. We partner with Cat Society HK to encourage people to donate their old PVC mats, and in return we’ll give them discount on our lifelong lasting yoga mats.
What are the things that Miss Runner is looking to improve in the future?
We’re upgrading our products as technology allows. Two years ago, there wasn’t even anything that was machine washable for yoga mats. Right now we’re able to make it more sweat responsive, and make the prints more vivid. In the future we will be experimenting with 3D reflective print design, and also upgrading the materials into more breathable fabrics with 360 stretch, so the pieces fit and function even better.
Shop Miss Runner online for stylish sports bras and yoga pants
Want to do more cardio and workouts? Get your body toned at these pilates studios in Hong Kong, train your muscles at these boxing gyms or find fun workouts to do in the city.