Today, I attended the launch event of home-grown brand PURPOSE Performance Wear’s brand new line of PURPOSE For Running apparels.

PURPOSE Performance Wear, or PURPOSE for short, is the first and only triathlon and cycling performance wear brand from Singapore. They pride themselves in making premium, technical high-quality performance wear specifically developed and made to cope with the heat and humidity of the South East Asian region, and have a consumer base across South East Asia, Australia, Europe, and the United States.

New PURPOSE For Running Range

Now, PURPOSE is extending their technical performance range into running, with a line called PURPOSE For Running.

Says Noor Ashikin Aziz, Founder and Director of PURPOSE Performance Wear, “Being a technical performance for triathlon, it was only natural to extend into running. We took three years to do this, because I wanted to make sure that we have perfected the technology and innovation in our trisuits and cycling jerseys. Now we are ready to implement this innovation into our new running kits. This is a milestone in running wear for our local runners.”

Launch Event Today at KHcycle

Photo by: PURPOSE Running

The launch event, which took place within the KHcycle store at East Coast Park’s newly built Cyclist Park, had kicked off with a dynamic warm-up session followed by a 5km run around the vicinity.

Received a PRO Racerback Tank Top and PRO Long Tights

Prior to the launch event, I had received PURPOSE’s new PRO Racerback Tank Top and the PRO Long Tights from the new PURPOSE For Running range, and this is what I wore for the event.

These two items are part of the new PURPOSE Running PRO Performance series and features the brand’s unique mesh fabric technology, developed and constructed with a combination of lightweight, high air flow-through fabrics made from different polymer, elastane and nylon weaves to provide the best heat dissipation and temperature regulating capabilities.

The collection currently features singlets and long tights for women, as well as singlets, short-sleeved tees and mid-length tights for men. Shorts, compression tights and long-sleeved tops are currently in the works and are expected to be launched in the coming months.

My Impressions on the Apparels

At the PURPOSE launch event, it had been the third time that I had worn the PURPOSE For Running apparel set. The other two sessions had been an interval (speed) session and an endurance (tempo) run.

For my first impressions on the apparels, I thought that the PRO Racerback tank top is very lightweight and comfortable to wear, thereby making it great for Singapore’s tropical climate. The material is not very stretchy, but the main thing is that it sticks in place and does not ride up when I am moving.

As for the PRO Long Tights, while these feel substantially thicker to the touch at first glance, it was surprisingly not as warm as I had expected.

What I really love about the tights are the numerous pockets. There are two medium sized side pockets and one large pocket at the back, the latter being big enough to fit my iPhone XS Max with some room to spare.

Apparently the brand’s PRO Performance running knit is made of 79 per cent polyester and 21 per cent elastane; this combination advance weave was selected because it is one of the thinnest weaves available, making it exceptionally light and cooling and perfect for the tropical climate. In fact, the PURPOSE For Running range is marketed as being twice as light as compared to its competitors from Europe or Australia.

And while I am running, I felt that the material is very quick to absorb my perspiration. Yet even then, it still feels very lightweight and breathable and does not appear to be weighted down by my sweat. I perspire a lot, so this definitely indicates something.

Photo by: PURPOSE Running

After my run, the material also dries up extremely fast – therefore meaning that I do not need to wear wet clothes when I take the bus or train home after a workout session. This is good, considering that I was perspiring buckets, no thanks to Singapore’s humidity.

Most importantly, the designs are pretty and the running apparel and fitting is good. I will continue to wear them.

Breakfast followed by Brand Introduction and Testing

The 5km run was followed by a delicious buffet breakfast comprising of scrambled eggs, fried carrot cake, fried tofu cubes, char siew baos, sandwiches, salad and fresh fruits, and with cold iced tea being provided as a beverage.

After eating our fill, everyone then adjourned into the KHcycle store, where we learned more about the history and background of the PURPOSE brand, as well as gleaning an introduction into their PURPOSE For Running range and how it was conceptualised. It had been quite interesting and informative.

At the store, there was also a photo prop to take pictures, as well as sample apparels from the PURPOSE For Running range, for attendees to try out and get a feel of the clothes for themselves. 

As well, those who had wanted to purchase any of the apparel would have received a 20% discount too, which was only valid for the launch event.