A day in the life of Max Vallot and Tom Daly

District Vision is an international company. The two cofounders, Max Vallot & Tom Daly, are respectively German & British. Longstanding friends, they met in London, where they both studied. Today as partners, they live and work in New York, where they hosted us.

Max and Tom are, as said, the heads of District Vision, an eyeglasses brand, and more generally a tools brand for runners. They also head District Projects, a consulting agency specialised in luxury marketing and communications. As clients, they count Byredo and Balenciaga. “With District Projects, we mostly do image direction and communications”, explains Max.

How did the idea of a brand solely dedicated to runners’ needs come? Simply, in the words of the cofounders: “we are ourselves runners, so it came naturally”, narrates Tom. Tom, precisely, is the most serious runner of the duo, as he says. Max, on his side, has more of a yoga background, and got into running later on: “I had the chance to be initiated into running by a very good friend, then I have kept on with the BLACKROSESNYC collective”.

Today, running is at the heart of the creative process of District Vision members, which gives a central place to runners needs and listening. They notably organize discussions about the ties between meditation and running. As Max says: “Meditation is a very powerful tool, which can help each runner in his practice. Most of the runners whom we discuss with are ready to try. They just did not find the right moment or rhythm yet”.

It goes without saying that both of them are expert and assiduous athletes. Apart from running, they practic yoga. Max explains his initiation this way: “I started 3 years ago, initiated by my then girlfriend, who was an instructor. My first session was restorative, and as soon as it was done, I felt incredibly good, very relaxed.” From this day, he practices daily, or so: “Every morning, I do a series of asanas (editor’s note: positions), then I meditate for 20 minutes”. A complete program, followed by a liquid breakfast: “ a bullet coffee (editor’s note: a coffee with butter), and coconut water” for Tom, “Masala chai (editor’s note: a spicy Indian tea), with oat flakes or a homemade smoothie” for Max. Now, they also add natural supplements, from the brand Moon Juice, specially conceived for runners, as they prepare for the New York City marathon.

We could easily consider that meditation allows those men to spend stress-free days at the office. It’s true: “meditation often helps me to put things back in perspective, and go through the week more easily”, says Max. Obviously, as the residents confess, the studio which the two associates work in, is very zen. “Hopefully, as we are together and focused on work seven days a week”.

Predict and answer the most demanding runners’ needs is an absorbing work and an exciting challenge.

Photos : Ana Lafond