Written by
Baptiste Doisneau
Oct 29, 2025
Ciele Athletics: innovation serving the run
Born in Montreal in 2014, Ciele Athletics quickly established itself as a reference in technical running caps. Today certified B Corp and present in over 50 countries, the brand develops innovative textile technologies such as COOLmatic and Sorino, combining performance, responsibility, and creative expression.
Can you introduce the brand Ciele Athletics?
Ciele Athletics is a Montreal-based running brand specializing in technical headgear and performance apparel. It was launched 11 years ago, in 2014, with the ambition of creating a space where athletic performance meets creative expression. We are recognized as a benchmark for the best running caps. Responsibility is essential for us, and we have proudly been certified B Corp since 2022. Today, our accessories and clothing are distributed in over 50 countries, including our flagship store in Montreal: espace | MTL.
-Dan Marrett, marketing director
Source :
Ciele Athletics
Source :
Ciele Athletics
Could you describe to us the genesis of COOLmatic technology and what makes it so effective for thermal regulation and moisture evacuation?
COOLmatic was born from our desire to create products capable of performing in the most demanding and high-intensity environments. From the very beginning, we designed our fabrics to be highly breathable and capable of quickly wicking away moisture, to keep you dry and comfortable. Over the years, we have built on this foundation with COOLmatic | PLUS, which maintains the same quick-drying performance but with an additional technical finish that offers enhanced cooling effect and anti-odor action.
We also introduced COOLmatic | EXP, found in the majority of our cold-weather collection. This fabric permanently integrates alternative fibers like carbon or graphene directly into the knit structure. You always benefit from the moisture management of the base fabric, plus the properties of these high-performance fibers. Carbon, for example, is an excellent temperature regulator, helping you stay warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather, making it an ideal material for dynamic winter conditions.
-Meagan Smith, Product and Sourcing Manager
Source :
Ciele Athletics
Source :
Ciele Athletics
The use of fibers such as merino, hemp, silk, or cotton in the Sorino range combines technical performance and natural comfort. Can you tell us more about the choices of fibers and their specific properties?
With Sorino, our goal was to highlight the technical properties of natural fibers while reducing our reliance on synthetic materials like polyester and nylon. Each fiber brings its specific advantages. Cotton offers everyday comfort, breathability, and softness. Hemp provides strength, durability, moisture-wicking capabilities, and a lower environmental footprint than most fibers. Merino wool naturally regulates temperature, ensures good breathability, and resists odors. Silk brings lightness, softness, and excellent moisture management.
Natural fibers are also biodegradable, further reducing our carbon footprint. By combining them, Sorino achieves a balance between technical performance and natural comfort: a collection that is pleasant to wear and more respectful of the planet.
-Meagan Smith, Product and Sourcing Manager
Source :
Ciele Athletics
Source :
Ciele Athletics
Could you share how this development process unfolds, from concept to production, particularly for European or North American partners?
Our development process is collaborative from start to finish. We begin with the design and textile innovation phase, often co-developing materials with our suppliers. Next comes prototyping and testing, which allow us to refine and examine every detail. Once the product is finalized, we collaborate with our manufacturing partners to bring it to life with the same attention to quality and innovation as during the conceptual stage.
-Meagan Smith, product and sourcing manager
Source :
Ciele Athletics
Source :
Ciele Athletics
You mentioned wanting to "do good" at every stage. Could you specify how this translates into the choice of materials, for example, the use of recycled fibers, and in the durability of the products?
For us, acting responsibly means integrating responsibility into every decision. It starts with the materials: we are increasing the use of recycled fibers (which have a smaller carbon footprint than traditional fibers), exploring natural alternatives, sourcing from certified suppliers, and collaborating with factories committed to high environmental and social standards.
This philosophy also guides our approach to design. We prioritize the creation of durable, versatile, and timeless products, in order to limit the need for constant renewal. Sustainability is an integral part of our DNA. We know we are not perfect, but we are determined to remain responsible and to continue progressing with each season.
-Meagan Smith, product and sourcing manager
Source :
Ciele Athletics
Source :
Ciele Athletics
You started exclusively with caps in 2014, before launching technical clothing (the Elite range) and even accessories. How has the COOLmatic or Sorino technology evolved to adapt to technical ready-to-wear?
The path to get here has been long and exciting. The launch of a clothing line has actually made us even more innovative in the headwear part. By developing apparel, we gained access to new fabrics and suppliers with whom we could not collaborate before. As you can imagine, a cap does not require much material, but the production of clothing opened the door to a much wider range of materials, which we were then able to reintegrate into our caps. This is particularly visible in our Elite collection, where we were able to significantly upgrade thanks to these new resources.
Our headwear has always been based on the COOLmatic foundation, but the expansion into apparel has allowed us to quickly introduce new developments like COOLmatic PLUS and EXP. Sorino is another example of a material that we wanted to use more for our caps for a long time, and we now see opportunities to extend it even more as it develops within the apparel line.
-Meagan Smith, product and sourcing manager
Source :
Ciele Athletics
Source :
Ciele Athletics
You mentioned "joint adventures" with other brands (Salomon, Veja…). How do you adapt your textile technologies, thread, knitting, and finishing to external partners without compromising your technical or ethical identity?
Good question, it’s a real challenge, and it really depends on the collaborators and their willingness to truly collaborate.
The collaboration that came closest to a genuine partnership was the first "Joint Adventure" with Norda. We had access to the Dyneema fabrics they used for their shoes, and the product was both high-performing and different. I would say it embodied both Ciele Athletics and Norda. As an object, it made sense and was very well received.
I really liked the visual aspect of what we did with Salomon, but essentially, it was a color variation, and I would have loved to have the chance to work more on the development of both headwear and footwear with them.
Colors and the graphic direction are extremely important, but it’s in the development and technical experimentation that collaborations can really come to life. We don’t just want to create color variations; we want to create something new and relevant.
-Jeremy Bresnen, co-founder
What are your plans for the future?
Headwear will remain the gateway to our brand, so expect even more development and innovation in this category. We are very excited about the evolution of our clothing collection over the past three years. We started modestly, but we are building something high-quality and premium, while staying true to our commitment to create the best possible equipment for runners.
-Jeremy Bresnen, co-founder