Last Updated on August 26, 2015 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP, CSCS
I’m very fortunate that in this tiny corner of the internet I have carved out for myself, I am given the opportunity to do a lot of product reviews and test new items in the running and fitness world. Most of these items are decent. Some, I completely dislike (and those may or may not ever make an appearance on the blog). But every now and then I come across an item or a brand or a product that I ADORE. One that I not only will shout-from-the-rooftops recommend over and over again, but something that I will continue to purchase myself. And today, we are going to talk about one of the items I love. Again.
Waaaaaay back in 2011 (that’ ancient history, in a blog timeline), I had the opportunity to review a then brand new athletic apparel company called INKnBURN. (You can read that review HERE.) I can’t remember exactly where I first saw the product line, but I remember falling in love with their “Run or Die” design. And I was STOKED when shortly thereafter I received an email from one of the company’s founders asking if I would do a product review.
Twist my arm.
My original INKnBURN Run or Die set, circa 2011
The apparel was kickass back then, and stood up to every test I put it against. That was nearly four years ago. And over the last four years I’ve continued to wear that exact same pair of shorts, tee shirt, and arm sleeves time and time again. Today, they look EXACTLY the same as they did that very first day, despite the countless washes and wears. And believe me, I don’t bother with the “gentle” cycle in the washing machine. Or even sorting clothes for that matter. If it can’t all be washed together, I don’t bother (my “anti-domestic-M.O.”. Geoff is a WAY better housewife than I am.)
Though I’ve loved INKnBURN from the get go, it wasn’t until the last year that I really started adding to my INKnBURN collection.
And adding.
And adding…until I realized that 99% of the apparel I reached for on a day to day basis was INKnBURN. Oh the joys of working from home or in a gym, my business casual attire kicks ass!
Just a few items from my growing collection…
ABOUT:
INKnBURN is hand crafted in Southern California (USA). From visual conception to final product, everything is hand made by a very small team. And that small team chooses innovation over mass production, thus they only make limited edition runs of each of their designs (making them more fun to collect, and less likely to see 100 other people at the starting line wearing the same outfit as you). The process, in their words:
We apply the art by hand to each panel of our amazing feeling performance fabric before sewing. (For one shirt that is 6 pieces of fabric!) We use a process of heat and pressure that allows our art to stain the fibers of the fabric so you can’t feel it and it doesn’t fade, crack or peel. This also means our performance fabrics still feel silky cool, wick away moisture and breathe as they were intended to do.
Once the art has been applied to the fabric pieces, sewing is next in the process. Our mature and experienced staff are experts on the specialized machines we use to sew each style we make. Almost every seam in our tech shirts is sewn twice to ensure strength and also to ensure the seams are flat to prevent chafing or rubbing. The neckband on the back of our shirts contains the usual tag info back of your neck, without a scratchy tag. We use the softest threads available to be sure our shirts are the most comfortable you will ever wear.
Their limited run prints ensure that the pieces are not only unique, but that each piece is made with impeccable quality and attention to detail. As mentioned above, the quality of the INKnBURN line is truly one of the best if not THE best, most durable clothing line I’ve encountered so far. The number one complaint I hear about the INKnBURN line is in regards to the cost. I won’t deny, the stuff can be pricey. But when you consider the fact it’s a handmade item that truly LASTS, it makes more sense as an investment.
And last it does; I’ve put this stuff through the wringer. From muddy obstacle course races…
Bandit cami (left & right), Run or Die Roses 4 Arms (center)
to marathons…
Those same shorts & arm sleeves, 4 years later at the All American Marathon
to training in the heat AND the cold…
Run or Die shirt, Bloom shorts.
What, you don’t run through glaciers? Run or Die long sleeve, lace capris.
to 50 mile ultra through the rugged Vermont woods.
Leaf ‘Em in the Dust shorts, INFINITUS 2015
I fall, I get back up, I fall again, as I tend to do. The skirt in my infamous and all too often used hilarious photo? INKnBURN. No tears, stains, pulls…it washed completely clean.
Lust skirt
But what I love the most about the line is how bright, loud, unique, and sometimes obnoxious the patterns and designs are.
Kind of like me. Loud, unique, and sometimes obnoxious. Heh.
Trail run shenanigans! SA Leaf headband, Dark Forest tech tee, and Leaf ‘Em in the Dust shorts.
I’ve even gotten the family in on the INKnBURN love, as they also have a mens and kids line of apparel:
Geoff wearing his “Fish Tank”
The point of me rambling on about my love for INKnBURN is to share my latest news: I found out the other day that I was invited to be an INKnBURN ambassador. In all of my years of blogging (nearly 7, where does the time go?) I’ve never believed in nor loved one specific company SO MUCH that I’ve stood up and said “YES I will turn down all other sponsorships just to be on your team”. But that is how I feel about this company, and so I’m thrilled and honored that they picked me to help represent their brand.
So, next time I post pictures of my shenanigans (and training and racing) and you think “hey, I wonder where she got that shirt (shorts, tights, etc)”…chances are it’s from INKnBURN. And when you hear me mention the brand a trillion more times over the coming year (and beyond), now you know why.
If you are looking for some quality, made in the U.S.A., unique athletic apparel, check out www.INKnBURN.com. To say I recommend the brand is an utter understatement; you will NOT regret your purchase. Just don’t hesitate if you see something you like, as they disappear fast…
Heather Hart is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), UESCA certified Ultrarunning Coach, RRCA certified Running Coach, co-founder of Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, and creator of this site, Relentless Forward Commotion. She is a mom of two teen boys, and has been running and racing distances of 5K to 100+ miles for over a decade. Heather has been writing and encouraging others to find a love for fitness and movement since 2009.
Emily
I just discovered this line and I LOVE the designs! However like you said, they sell out so fast and they are a little pricey for me…Hopefully I get lucky one of these days! I’d love to rock some of their stuff for my first marathon in October!
[email protected]
I have a singlet from Ink n Burn, I ordered it specifically for the race in Tupelo, MS where on their race shirt the saying is “Trample the week, hurdle the dead”. I thought the run or Die was perfect for it! I test it out Labor Day weekend at their Half Marathon 🙂
Runbug Jones
Their Atalanta pattern caught my eye a couple months ago and I didn’t complete the purchase then. Wish I had known the designs were limited editions!