Ciele Athletics

Montreal-based B Corp Ciele Athletics makes quality apparel for runners, but as our own advice columnist Dear Dot has learned, the versatile gear does it all. Three months ago, Dot received a pair of Ciele’s new FSTTight trimmable running leggings. While many brands produce leggings in a number of lengths, the FSTTight comes in just a 29” length. Lines on the underside of the fabric show where to trim, and bar tack seaming prevents the trimmed stitches from unraveling. This clever innovation lets consumers customize the fit of their own tights. It also allows the Canadian running company to produce fewer items overall and run less risk of having leftover stock. The trimmable line includes tights and shorts for women and shorts for men.

Dot, a former marathon runner, mostly wears her tights on hikes and to yoga classes. She’s washed her trimmed tights several times, and sees no trace of unraveling. As for the fit, Dot says: “The leggings have more compression than my usual Lululemons (which, to be fair, are a decade old) but I like the feel … They fit like a super comfortable girdle, and the side pockets are amazing.” She also loves the Deco Rose color, calling it “gorgeous and perfect for spring.”

While Ciele now makes all kinds of running clothes, the brand’s founding mission was to create the perfect running cap. The company’s founders, two entrepreneurs who had experience in action sports and technical apparel, couldn’t find caps they loved. So, in 2014 they decided to create a line of functional, fashionable hats. Ciele gained a following and began to make other apparel. The brand prioritizes fabrics that carry Global Recycled Standard, Bluesign, and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certifications. In 2024, Ciele partnered with EcoVadis, a third-party group that helps companies evaluate their supply chains to help find more ethical and environmentally sound suppliers. While almost all of Ciele’s headwear uses recycled materials, unfortunately, the tights do not. We hope that Ciele’s EcoVadis partnership helps the brand continue to incorporate sustainable materials across its entire line, but, on the whole, we’re definitely fans of this Canadian company. Orders within Canada ship carbon-neutral.