Julian: Sports have always played a huge role in my life. I grew up playing football, but when I could no longer do team sports due to work, I switched to running. What I love about it is its simplicity – you just need a pair of shoes, and you can do it anywhere, anytime, with anyone. It’s an outlet for my thoughts, a way to process things. The mental aspect is also a big advantage. Pushing through tough sessions builds resilience.

Marcus: I also played a lot of team sports growing up and always thought of running as a solo activity. But starting a running club two years ago changed my perspective. It happened naturally – we gathered friends, met every Saturday at 11 am, went for a relaxed run, and then hung out. The focus wasn’t just on running; it was about bringing people together.

Julian: Also Running is inclusive. It doesn’t matter where you come from, your gender, sexuality, or whether you’re a beginner or a pro. It’s technically an individual sport, but as Marcus said, it feels more like a team sport.

Chris: I think running isn’t a lifestyle in itself but contributes to a certain way of living. None of us are professional athletes – running is just a part of our overall lifestyle. It makes you feel good, keeps you healthy, and connects you with people.

Marcus: I used to think you had to finish a run, shower, change, and then go out. But with our running club, people started chatting, and hanging out. It was less about the run itself and more about the community it created.

Julian: I also like that fashion now embraces running. There was a gorp core hype, and now the same is happening with running. We want to make this sport cooler, moving away from the stereotype of runners in bright, flashy gear who only talk about their paces and times. You can be an artist, musician, or creative and still be a runner. Our goal with Ante is to give running the same cultural appeal as football or basketball.

Marcus: People want to look good during and after a run. Wearing bright neon gear doesn’t always align with how you’d dress normally for a coffee shop. The goal is to merge performance and style so that your outfit works in both settings.

Chris: It’s about putting effort into what you wear – no more just grabbing random shorts and a T-shirt. People now embrace sportswear as part of their style. Our designs focus on a sleek, timeless aesthetic that integrates into daily life.

Julian: While we currently see a lot of the running aesthetic coming from a technical point of view, we try to change perspectives and draw inspiration by uncommon materials, shapes and forms. Therefore, we create timeless and functional high-quality garments, a uniform for on and off the track. We are blending the two worlds together in which we are living in: fashion and sports.

Marcus: Right in the middle. Initially, we leaned towards performance, but then we realised something was missing. We introduced elements from our everyday lives, making it feel more authentic.

Julian: We wanted a name with no associations. Chris suggested Ante, and after looking it up, we found out it derives from the Latin language, meaning “to go forward” or “pioneer,” which perfectly aligns with our vision.

Chris: The sound, the way it looks when written, and its ambiguity were all important. It lets us shape our own meaning.

Chris: We’d all probably pick different pieces, but one standout is the Half-Zip Longsleeve, a nylon sports fabric piece with thumb holes I’m wearing right now. It’s a performance item, yet most people wear it casually or even to the office.

Julian: We invest heavily in sourcing and developing fabrics, like our ribbed fabric from Italy. For example, our Half-Zip Longsleeve: On the surface it’s tailored for every occasion but if you take a closer look, it’s a performance fabric with technical components but it doesn’t scream sportswear.

Marcus: We never set out to “build a community.” Our running club started organically, but soon, more and more people asked if they could join. Now, we do monthly runs, and our events have grown massively. For our last adidas pop-up, over 200 people signed up. It’s a natural evolution.

Chris: The brand is a platform for things we love – events, parties, various projects in general. It’s all about creating shared experiences.

Marcus: The Friends & Family dinner we’re hosting. Like Chris said, it’s not just about running – it’s about everything we enjoy with friends, brought together through shared experiences with the brand.

Chris: For me it’s our pop-up on Saturday at Tor86. The last one was packed with new faces, and great conversations. It’s more than just a store; it’s a space to connect.

Marcus: The shoe itself bridges running and lifestyle. I actually shot the upcoming campaign for it in Cape Town. It’s designed to be worn while running but also in everyday life, which aligns perfectly with our philosophy.

Marcus: It has to look good – simple as that. When adidas first showed us the Adizero EVO SL at their HQ, we were immediately drawn to it.

Chris: An icon is defined by the moments and associations built around it. The Adizero always broke records. Even when a non-professional runner wears it, they get a taste of that legacy.

Julian: Being creative feels natural and is like an engine to me which keeps me moving forward. I’m lucky that I found like-minded individuals like Marcus and Chris, to further transform my passion into “work”, even though I don’t really like to call it that. If joy, love and friendship is the origin, work doesn’t feel like work, it happens naturally.

Marcus: For me, creativity comes from the people around me. Being surrounded by interesting, inspiring individuals fuels my ideas.

Chris: I agree. When you blend different perspectives and styles, you create something new. Creativity thrives on exchange, just like sports enrich life. Both make life more fulfilling.