Ponnek Running: The new Cornish based running store built by runners
Words: Will Harper-Penrose
Photography: Daniel Evans
On the 2nd May 2022, the new Cornish running apparel brand ‘Ponnek’ launched.
Ponnek is born out of an obsession for running and the culture of it, with a mindset of bringing something to the Cornish running community, not taking from it.
The Cornish Running Scene 〓〓
With a group of runners of all ages and abilities gathering together to clean up the trails and beaches of the Roseland peninsula, Ponnek set the tone for things to come.
Their culture first approach can be seen throughout their products, with nods to the running boom of the 1970s in their socks and the simple yet high-quality clothing that lets the runner focus on nothing but their sport and their environment.
Soft, sweat-wicking unisex tech tees and stripped back singlets in modest greys, whites and blacks let the running speak for itself. Organic cotton t-shirts complete the brand’s launch range, so runner’s can let the world know how they’re aligned on a rest day or a run day.
Founder, Sam Downing said, “This brand is more than just apparel. My aim is to encompass everything there is to love about running; the people, the terrain, the events, the personal achievements that need the spotlight shining on them. Our quality technical and casual garments will form the foundations. The community and how we are brought together through a mutual desire to run, will build the walls.”
With a small team of passionate runners, building a brand for the community, there are lots of exciting events coming to the fore.
Sustainability
Ponnek believes in sustainability and on top of partnering with the environmental group ‘Ecologi’, planting trees with every purchase, the brand plans to host regular plogging social runs, cleaning up the trails which give runners so much joy.
Final Thoughts
These hundreds of miles of Cornish trail are what gives Ponnek its name, translating to ‘dusty’ in the Cornish language. Perhaps a word that has been lost in recent years will become synonymous with the rapidly growing sport of trail running.
This is a brand that will offer something more than clothing, with a passion for music and human stories.
They want to enrich the scene, embrace the culture, empower the community and have people ‘run dusty’ for the love of it.