A couple of weeks after her collaboration with Adidas was unveiled, British-Jamaican designer Grace Wales Bonner travelled to the French capital to present her Spring/Summer 24 collection during Paris Fashion Week, which goes by the name of “Marathon” and comes in the form of an ode to long journeys and life’s missions. A celebration of inspired movement.

Legendary Ethiopian and Kenyan runners and their respective reflections have played an important role in the line. It is time to celebrate them and give them credit. Gebreselassie, Dibaba, and Kipchoge, congratulations on all you have achieved so far. Keep on the right path and never stray, may your faith-driven legs guide you.

They say that faith goes hand in hand with commitment, and the latter, holistically, is felt all along the line, especially in the craft techniques perfected over generations. Precious time is imbued in the Tibeb cloth woven by Addis Ababa craftsmen. Raffia is hand-embroidered on animal print waistcoats, which transport us to the savannah at its wildest, and then automatically into the world of pastoralism and horse riding, where plaid jackets and windbreakers, bouclé knitwear and calfskin boots made in collaboration with Himco in Italy come into play. Telluric wonders in cheetah-print cowhide and horsehair canvas tailoring also find a place here, as do sheepskin-lined moccasins from UGG, which complete the loungewear offering.

Meanwhile, despite the presence of these two environments, the brand’s codes remain unwavering. Signature shirting is still present in a gradient stripe, while hybrid tailoring in earthy brown wool is enlivened with radiant blue satin and sporty finishes, and the collaboration with Adidas Originals gives rise to a floral and futuristic look in harmony with Mac coats and British checks. A special tribute is paid to Haile Gebreselassie at the 2008 Berlin Marathon, with a replica of his Adidas Neftegna shoe signed with the world record.

If there’s one competition in the world that any elite athlete rings a bell with, it’s the Olympics, and if we go back 63 years as Grace has done, we come to the 1960 Rome Games, where a cheering crowd rejoiced in the moonlit triumph of Abebe Bikila. Savile Row tailoring, produced in collaboration with Anderson and Sheppard, was predominant at the time and has been brought back to the present day.

What environments and eras will Grace take us to next? Check out the WALES BONNER Spring/Summer 2024 collection below: