When Friends Build Together: Bandit x Research Studio

Some collabs just make sense. we and Bandit Running have been circling the same orbit for a while, two brands that treat running as performance and culture.

You probably know Bandit. What started as a pair of socks out of a Brooklyn basement in 2020 has become one of the most quietly influential running brands out there: community-first, design-forward, built by runners for runners.

We on the other hand are the newer name, but not by accident. Founded by Mads Hancock between New York and Copenhagen, We spent 18 months developing our first two frames. Every piece is 3D-printed in the USA from aerospace-grade nylon, paired with ZEISS optics, and stripped back to the essentials. No loud branding. Just eyewear engineered like equipment.

The result: two frames, each in an exclusive Bandit-curated colorway, with co-branded cases, lens cloths, and etching at the center front.

UNCUT is the sharper take, RS's sculptural silhouette stripped further back, with a new lens cut shape and a distinct brow channel pattern for more airflow and less weight at the edges. Built for when the pace picks up.

PACE is the statement piece, a wraparound frame inspired by the anatomy of the dragonfly. Panoramic field of view, organic contours, 3D printed in the USA, with a soft silicone nose pad and an ergonomic unisex fit. Nature's geometry meets modern minimalism.

A shared belief that performance gear should actually be designed like it matters.