In our End of Year survey, the final question turned it over to you to ask us anything that was on your mind. We got curveballs, heaters, and some softballs, but we took a swing at damn near every single one of them. Most of the answers were a joint effort by a few of us, and then there's some that were from a specific person on the squad (those are initialed by one of us below).
- AS: Ardith Singh, Co-Founder & Chief Designer
- NW: Nick West, Co-Founder & CEO
- TW: Tim West, Founder & Creative Director
- TR: Tim Rossi, Brand & Experiential Marketing
- SF: Steve Finley, Community & Partnerships
Our answers are in no particular order and there's a goooood amount of them, so feel free to choose your own adventure. Okay, here we go...
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I'm curious how big your team is.
14 very brave souls.
Do you miss Chef James, aka Mr. Crown Shy himself aka chillest chef ever aka he’s why I began running and think Bandit is the coolest?
TW: Yes, I miss my guy every day. When I’m stuck in a situation, I’ll ask myself, what would Jamal do? In that way, he’s still very much with me. And in an even bigger way, I’m extremely fortunate and proud to be working with Kelly, Chef’s wife, on Dine & Dash Season 2–coming out this Spring. I know he would want us to continue doing the work to inspire more people like yourself to get out and go for a run.
When is Bandit coming to Europe?
Technically speaking, we’re already there. We have a handful of amazing run specialty shops who carry Bandit throughout Europe: Flat Mountain Living in Berlin, Rich & Hanc in Copenhagen, Runlimited & Article in London, Voodoo Running in Manchester, Interval in Edinburgh, Odda in Madrid, and more to come soon. We also collab'd with our NBRO family in CPH in 2023 and of course, our Braves collab for Berlin '24 this past Fall. We'll be popping up for a certain foggy city this April in a bigger way with more on the books for Europe later this year. Stay tuned.
Your newsletters have sublime wordplay. Who writes those?
"It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me.” -Batman
How do you find and support sub-elite runners (I loved seeing your pre-trials profiles of some of them on YT)?
TR: This is what makes me good at my job, I can't give away the secrets! Jokes, that's the opposite of how we think. Running is a small world, which makes it pretty efficient to navigate it if you come to the sport with pure intentions. Meeting friends of friends, "networking" at shakeout runs, rabbitholes on IG, random emails, etc. Unfortunately/Fortunately, there are tons of amazing athletes that need support, and they're usually one-degree of separation from our team. That makes for a really awesome opportunity to connect and see how we can help, but on the flip-side, it means there are a ton of great athletes out there still unsupported. We’re working hard to close those gaps. If you're one of these athletes reading this, definitely hit me up! And if you're a fan, keep getting stoked about running, because that's what will bring more money and more support into the sport! All boats rise vibes.
Why do your products sell out so fast? (A few people asked this question in different ways, so allow us to explain as best we can.)
Here’s how we approach our product releases... Starting with our Marathon capsules, those are only meant to last the weekend at our pop-ups. We don't drop them online, it's more of a "gotta be there" situation. Sometimes the most popular items in a marathon capsule will go way faster than expected, and sometimes there are items we have a bit of left over once our doors close (they then go online). For our seasonal collections, there’s generally two types of items that are a bit more limited in quantity.
The first are brand new items we’re releasing for the first time (experimental). We have to be more conservative with those, so we can gather feedback, make improvements/iterate, and then go bigger if runners are loving it, rather than potentially carrying a bunch of excess product on a new launch that has no track record. A good example here is our Half-Tights. When they first came out, they sold out in under a day. After getting tons of feedback, we made adjustments to the design and now they live in our Steady State™ collection, always available.
The second are items with more bold designs/unique graphics and colorways. In our very first community feedback night, everyone unanimously asked for products with designs that were more bold/unique… but that not everyone around them had. So we do some limited edition designs as well to keep those items more special.
That being said, those two types of products are only a small minority of the overall collection makeup. Most items in a collection are still available for multiple days and weeks after our collection launch. If an item comes in multiple colors, chances are we have the most in Black.
Finally, our Steady State™ Collection is where you’ll find our best-seller core items in our mainstay colorways (black, NY Navy, champagne), always available. It’s a work in progress and over the next few months we should have 100% in-stock rates across every item. Need an extra pair of 5" Stamina Compression shorts because you upped your mileage and want to limit your trips to the washing machine or laundromat? They'll be there for you. This is the commitment we're working towards and the best way we believe we can balance "availability" without over-buying on new products and unique seasonal graphics/colorways that will only live for that one season.
For the best chance of getting those limited release items from a capsule or collection, join The Membership. Members get early access to everything and as long as you’re online when it drops, you’ll most likely get any item you want (and you'll get them with your 10% off and free shipping).
So to very straightforwardly answer one question, we don’t “manufacture scarcity" in the name of hype. We're simply growing in a way that takes a “considered” approach, leans on learning before really investing in buying a large amount of inventory for any single product. The alternative would be to hold a ton of excess inventory, which can put a young brand in a markdown spin cycle, potentially killing it. Scary!
Why does shipping take so long?!
We'll start with the good news and then you give you some background on the issues that are very fortunately, in our rear view mirrors. As of about a month ago, we have fully dug ourselves out of the backlog of orders - since then, 90% of our orders are processing and shipping out within 24 hours, with just shy of 100% in 48 hours. If you've ordered in late December/January, you've had this improved shipping experience.
So here’s what led to the issues this Fall/Holiday season - the perfect storm of much higher than predicted order volume occurred while we were transitioning our shipping operations. Up until early August, we had been fulfilling all of our own orders in a warehouse/loft space in Greenpoint, BK. There came a time when we knew we were going to have to ultimately move to a much larger operation, and unfortunately, that time came shortly before our Fall Collection drop. We'll take it on the chin, that we could have gotten ahead of this a bit more, but also... if you're a retail/supply chain/product nerd, you're probably familiar that there's never a good time to make these switches, and that it always causes a bit of a logistical quagmire. So… a couple weeks after we began operating with a new warehouse partner (while they were still climbing the learning curve that is working with all of our products/processes), we launch the Fall collection. Our drops are a really highly concentrated volume of orders all at the same time. Not optimal for a new partner or really any partner… warehouse/fulfillment operations do best with steady/consistent and predictable volumes, not … a spikey and somewhat unpredictable stream of orders, and certainly not like that just a few weeks after getting started. A fulfillment warehouse’s layout changes and evolves over time as it ingests more order data. It’ll learn to put the lightweight socks next to the OG hats for quicker picking… but because it was early days, it’ll have them at different ends of the shelf - of course, this is a hypothetical example, and they had some of our previous data to work though, so it wasn't entirely a square one situation. But regardless, this means that to start, they are their least efficient point in time when it comes to picking those orders because of the lack of history and ultimately, optimization. So Fall Collection ultimately put us in a major hole in the form of a massive backlog of orders due to peak volume, and the inopportune timing to which we had to switch over.
The seasonal collection drops will always be a tough one to crack, but we can promise you that we're working very hard to keep our recent, significantly improved processing and shipping times, as the status quo.
We mean this in a very heartfelt way, we really appreciate everyone dealing with this very much sub-par shipping experience and giving us more leeway and grace than you’d give most other brands. It is never lost on our team. And we can personally promise you, we aren’t striving for merely “better than before,” we’re striving to create the best customer experience possible. We won’t stop till we make you proud and we will continue to be much harder critics of ourselves than anyone could be of us, all in the name of creating a better experience for you.
What keeps you guys going?
Passion for the sport. The deep desire to leave a positive impact on it. A high-level of mutual respect and enjoyment among our team internally, and the enjoyment we have being with the running community. There are so many different things we could all be doing in our careers, and I think at a deep level, we all feel like we’re in a very unique position (created by a heady amount of hard work and luck), and that there is no other thing that we’d rather be doing in our careers, then working towards our mission to evolve running.
To what extent does your team's running cred contribute to your business success?
It’s much more about the passion than it is the “cred.” We have everyone from weekend warriors to a former pro, multiple (admittedly washed up) D1’ers, and post-college sub-elite heroes on the team. The thing that binds us all is our deep motivation to inspire more passion and participation in the sport. The “cred” just helps us all empathize with runners from a diversity of perspectives, but it is the passion, my friend, that we would attribute to any success we’ve had so far.
Now that every big brand has a major marathon shakeout or pop-up, how will Bandit keep standing out? So many copycats out there and you guys crush it at keeping it fresh.
We’d like to just keep it at “you’re gonna have to find out,” but we’ll also add - this is what makes our jobs exciting. We get into a room, and are forced to disrupt ourselves to stay fresh and unique. To be honest, any “copy cat-ness” (your words, not ours, but we’ll go with it here), that may or may not exist, makes our jobs really exciting, because it pushes us to continue to think differently. Ultimately, the excitement around the sport right now only makes it more fun for us.
Is the purpose behind Bandit to be for elite runners only?
Not in the slightest. You can check out the results of our 2024 Annual Survey - you’ll see a breakout that highlights the diversity of the different types of runners that connect with Bandit. Internally, we focus on the "goal-driven runner." This is irrespective of speed, pace, distance, etc. It's about creating products and experiences for runners who are chasing their own personal ambitions. That might be to simply finish their first marathon, or to finally get a consistent run routine integrated in their lives... and it also might be to qualify for the Olympic Trials. Our goal is to support that journey, whatever it may be.
I’m very curious about material selection and influence on textile design! Do you all work with existing manufacturers and their textile designs, or are you co-developing new textures/designs with them? How do you convince them to produce complex designs? My thoughts to towards some of the micro textures y'all have - ex) the checkerboard pattern with “Bandit” engravings.
AS: Over the years, I have developed deep relationships with mills across the globe. Luckily, bc have those trusted connections partners are willing to develop proprietary fabrics based on a concept or idea I have. Of course there are times when I am able to source exactly what I am looking for that exists within a mill's collection, but often we are either using an item in the collection as a starting point and evolving it based on our specifics needs, end use, or aesthetic.
How’d the ASICS collab come together? That was sick!
The Asics squad had a pop–up near ours the first year we were in Boston for the Marathon in 2023. We went to theirs. They came to ours. We got to know their team. Having been admirers of Asics and its history in the sport, and further getting to know the fine folks over there, the relationship mutually evolved into what you’ve seen thus far (The Program, our NYCM experience capsule) and some of what has yet to be revealed ;), …given our mutual focus on evolving the sport and generally being most excited to push things into new, creative directions, and also our appreciation for their Japanese heritage, it’s been an organic, mutually great partnership. -NW
How long does it take to select and develop a design or material before launching?
AS: This really depends on the end use. If the raw material is to be used solely for performance and could be a key fabric for us go forward (or if I believe it could be), ideally I would be starting to test no less than a year out. Even though I work on a seasonal basis, the research and development is on going-there is no stop/start...I am constantly looking to evolve. From a design standpoint it is pretty similar, although I am able to do it a bit quicker if needed. Luckily our community (and office) is full of dedicated runners ready to wear test new silhouettes and construction techniques.
How do you gather inspiration for the different prints/colors/designs of each collection?
AS: At a high level, my inspiration comes from the world around us, not necessarily the running world. Vintage fashion (80s/90s), art, architecture, and interior design are all very influential in my design process and a constant source of inspiration. These influence everything from color, to raw material development, print/pattern, and silhouette.
How do you come up with the running programming?
SF: Hello, Steve Finley here (bonus guest answer-er). I head up all athlete/training programming at Bandit. I ran D-1 in college (@ UVA and Oregon). Post-college I ran as a pro for Nike, before becoming a head running coach for Nike NYC, and eventually founded Brooklyn Track Club - a performance-oriented run club in Brooklyn. In 15 years of coaching I've worked with athletes at programs and athletes at all levels from high school to Olympic qualifiers from the 800m - marathon distances. I've coached over 7,500 marathoners in an in-person setting since 2015 and am a USA Track & Field Certified Coach and also hold the specialist certification in endurance events from the USA Track & Field & Cross Country Coaches Association.
How do you choose your color palettes for every drop?
AS: The way I approach color is pretty specific and of course nuanced, but at a high level I like to approach the season by building a foundation of neutrals, so that could be maybe Bandit black as the hero or New York Navy or like a rich, rusty brown. I then think about layering in other mid tones, soft hues and tonal layers to create a more robust palette while keeping the color feel smooth overall. The next step is ensuring the third layer of color introduces some sort of color tension within the palette...something that makes you take a second look, something unexpected. That could be happening between two of the accent colors or one of the foundational neutrals. This is all in context of the season that comes before and what I am anticipating for the following season. Making sure that accent or tension isn't coming from the same color family. I don't want two seasons to feel like a run-on sentence in terms of color, but more like an incremental build.
Do you plan on doing more pop-up shops for marathons in 2025?
Short answer, yes. Long answer, also yes. If all goes according to plan, we'll find our way on to flights to all Majors in due time. This year, we're adding at least one more to the rotation...
As your brand grows in popularity and becomes "mainstream" how do you continue to remain on the fringes of cool?
We never go into a room and look at trends or pose the question “what is gonna be really cool?” We say this truly, and not just as a poetic way to describe our process - we’re not going to create products, campaigns and marketing activations that don’t make us feel something… like in our gut. That’s how it’s been from the start, and that’s how it will continue to be. If something, externally, that we do, is perceived as “mainstream” then so be it. It came from an authentic place. If something is perceived as “niche” or “cool,” then great. It came from an authentic place. At the end of the day, we’re going to work on things and create from a place of … this idea makes us feel something, and we’re gonna go after it Sometimes that something is “scared,” sometimes it’s “excited” sometimes, it’s “inspired”. But, it has to be something. And generally, if it makes us feel that something, and we’re that much more motivated to create an amazing end product, because we’re passionate about it - then it will (hopefully), and more probably connect with our community. I think people have a third eye for authenticity vs. things created in proverbial labs (focused-group out the wazoo). We can promise you, whether you like what we’re doing, or whether you don’t - either way, it’s coming from our hearts. And it won’t change as long as this team is driving the ship.
Any collabs to look out for?
Yes, and it's going to be something else, let me tell ya.
Why don’t you have an in person training group?
Guessing we're talking about why we haven't announced our Spring Program yet. We decided to switch things up this year and create an in-person training experience for a different race :) Stay tuned for that announcement and a couple other big things coming the week of 2/3.
When are you going to expand production and keep more offerings in stock. I understand the supply and demand craze but sometimes I just want a new pair of socks lol.
You’re in luck, we have plenty of socks in stock right now! Second, we’re slowly but surely building up our inventory availability in our steady-state collection (the best sellers in core colors). Here’s the women’s steady-state, and here’s the men’s. The seasonal collections will continue to build and get bigger (trust us, from 2023 to 2024, we ramped production exponentially, multiple times over), but also - there are going to be new experimental products, innovations, unique graphics and colorways that we’re releasing for the time time - and those will be special, and it also just simply isn’t smart for us to buy super deep into something super unique or launching for the first time.
What's your favorite product that you weren't able to launch?
AS: Luckily, I have really supportive partners at Bandit that are willing to take a chance on something they haven't seen in the running space. There hasn't been much that has been completely edited (especially if its something I love and really believe in...shout out to Nick and Tim for the trust). Onesies, cut-out details, fitted tops for men, etc; we all like to push the boundaries of what running apparel could or should look like. One favorite I can remember that we edited was a ripstop jacket developed for Spring 25-the shape and details were a bit experimental, the fabric was sheer and I was playing a lot with grain direction and layering. Outerwear in general is tough to nail unless you want to retail it for a very high price point and produce a ton of units. We decided to hold that sample for a future season...when it would feel like less of a bet. The product team is still fighting for custody lol.
What playlists are y'all listening to at Bandit HQ?
Follow us on Spotify and may I humbly suggest starting out with the Winter 2024 playlist? It's my personal favorite and is our most followed playlist.
What about having BK runners (no models) as your campaign models? Your models are too cute, the normies want to shine too!
We actually use quite a bit of BK/NYC runners in our campaigns. In many cases, their first time ever modeling is with us and then they go on to work with tons of other great brands, which we love to see. Shoutout Vito Lentini (Bandit OG), Alan Yoho, Nick, Ama, Izabella, Sunny, Kam, Gabby, Brennan, Will, Rachel, Jack, Karen, Arieas, and so many others. Then there are people like Mikella who model for a living, and was once upon a time a high jumper for the Canadian Olympic team. Shoutout Umi as well who is Bandit family and has been training for race after race.
Plans to have more popups in sub-major marathons in 2025? Asking for a Montreal-based friend …
Yes, the plans are in motion. We have tons of love for those sub-majors.
Is there a possibility for more long-form content? A BTS day-in-the-office vlog would be dope.
Youtube's coming back in a big way this year. More Dialed and more Dine & Dash. Like & Subscribe. We're also going to possibly attempt some longer form walkthroughs of our collections, but TBD if we can get Ardith to agree to that.
I would LOVE if you had international/Australasian additions to the membership and more international shipping options (e.g. lower threshold to purchase). Alaskan living in Australia here; I love your products and ethos but it's tough being on the other side of the world! Many of the membership benefits can't be used easily here. Thanks guys!
We're actively working on this and will have an update within the next 60 days.
How do you feel about starting a shop in LA? ;)
If you made it this far in the AMA, you deserve to know. We feel... very good 👀
No questions. Thank you for what you do.
Thank you. We're lucky to do it. And we do it for you.
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