Re. started as a running sunglasses brand.
That was the plan (and it still is).
Solve problems runners actually have when they run in the sun. Fogging, bouncing, lenses that don't adapt.
Apparel wasn't supposed to be part of the equation.
But somewhere along the way, I wanted a running tee that actually felt right. Something lightweight, breathable, and simple enough that you could run in it and forget about it.
Not merch. Not a cotton tee with a logo on it.
Something built properly for running.
That idea turned into eight months of testing, more than 50 fabric variations, and way more R&D than I ever intended to spend on the best running tee I could create.
It Started as Team Wear for Activations
Originally this performance running shirt was just meant to be something the team could wear at run clubs and brand activations.
Something simple that made sense as a running top.
But once samples started arriving, it became clear how many things could be improved.
Fabric weight. Breathability. How it behaved once you actually started sweating. How it dried after a run.
And that's when the process got out of control.
Over 50 Variations Later
Across the development process we tested more than 50 variations of moisture wicking running shirts.
Different fabrics. Different micro-knit structures. Different weights. Different blends. Different stitching. Different seam structures.
Some were too heavy. Some felt great dry but awful once you started sweating. Some clung to your back halfway through a run.
Some just looked good on a hanger but fell apart when you actually ran in them.
Eventually I realised the only way to get this lightweight running shirt right was to test everything myself.
So testing started getting creative.
Real-World Testing Over Lab Testing
A lab can only get you so far.
My experience in product has taught me that MVP testing only really brings the true best features to mind when it's actually used.
Some of the tests were simple.
Some of them were slightly ridiculous.
But they worked.
These are some examples:
The Fan Test
I hung different breathable running shirts in front of a large fan to see how air actually moved through the fabric.
You can learn a lot watching how material reacts to airflow.
Some fabrics barely moved. Some breathed immediately.
That told me a lot about breathability.
The Candle Test
A candle behind the fabric is a quick way to see how open the knit is.
Hold the tee up, light behind it, and see how much light comes through.
Too opaque? Probably not breathable enough.
The Hose Test
One of the simplest tests for a quick dry shirt.
Hose the shirt down completely. Then time how long it takes to dry.
Some fabrics stayed damp for ages. Others dried surprisingly quickly.
The Cling Test
This one is very real for runners.
Once the fabric is wet, does it stick to your back or chest?
Some materials cling immediately when soaked.
Others maintain structure and stay breathable.
That matters more than people realise when you're sweating through a long run.
The Sweat Simulation
Sometimes I'd just soak the moisture wicking t shirt and then go for a run.
See how it behaved once it was already wet.
Because halfway through a run, that's basically what happens.
The Weight Test
Wet weight vs dry weight.
How much heavier does the technical running shirt get once soaked?
Some fabrics hold far more water than others.
The "Forget It's There" Test
This might be the most important one.
If after 5km you stop thinking about the shirt entirely, it's probably doing its job.
If you notice it sticking, overheating, or feeling heavy, it's not ready.
A Lot of Samples Didn't Make It
Plenty of versions looked promising.
Then they failed once they hit real runs.
A few had great airflow but terrible durability.
Others felt amazing but dried too slowly.
A few were just weird.
All of them helped move things closer to something that felt right.
The R&D Reality
The honest truth is that we probably spent more on development than this first run can ever recover.
The first production batch is intentionally small.
Financially it doesn't make sense.
There's no way the development costs break even on this run.
But the goal wasn't short-term margin.
The goal was to build the right product for Australian runners.
Something we could stand behind.
Something runners actually wanted to wear, just like we do with our running sunglasses.
If that means losing money on the first run but learning what works, that's a trade I'm happy with.
The Final Fabric: A Performance Running Shirt Built Right
After months of testing, the version that survived is built from a lightweight engineered micro-knit technical polyester fabric.
Key characteristics that make this one of the best running tees for serious runners:
Lightweight – You barely notice it's there, even on long runs
Breathable – Air moves through the fabric, keeping you cool when the pace picks up
Quick drying – Dries fast both during and after your run
Moisture wicking – Pulls sweat away from your skin instead of holding it
Designed to reduce cling – Stays off your back during sweaty runs
Soft feel – No irritation against the skin, even on hot days
The structure allows airflow through the fabric while maintaining durability for repeated runs.
The Fit
The running tee has a unisex athletic fit.
It's structured slightly through the shoulders with a relaxed taper through the body. Not too loose, not too tight.
The goal wasn't an oversized lifestyle tee.
It's meant to move naturally while running.
True to size for most runners.
Why It's Called "The First Run"
This release is intentionally small.
We've produced a very small batch for this first production run.
Partly because we wanted to test demand.
Partly because we wanted to keep the release tight and community-driven.
And partly because small runs feel more honest when you're figuring things out.
There's no guarantee this exact version will ever be restocked.
But if it works and runners like it, we'll keep building on it.
The Real Goal
This wasn't meant to be merch.
It was meant to be something that runners actually wanted to wear.
A lightweight running shirt that performs. A breathable running shirt that keeps you cool. A moisture wicking running shirt that disappears once you start running.
And if the testing was any indication, we're getting pretty close.
The First Run is live now, but we've only got limited sizes available. If you want one, get in quick.
Looking for running sunnies that are actually made for running? Check out our high-performance running sunglasses designed with the same (if not more) obsessive attention to detail.
Tim Golubev
Founder, Re. (Re Your Run)
Tim built Re. after years of running in sunglasses that bounced, fogged, and ended up on his forehead. After discovering the UV damage that builds up without eye protection (even on cloudy days) and hearing the same frustrations from hundreds of other runners, he decided it was a problem worth fixing properly. With a background in Product across multiple industries, he approached it like any product problem: figure out what's broken, then build something that actually fixes it. He runs daily, co-founded Rose Bay Run Club, and Re. is his attempt to make one less thing that gets in the way of a good run.
