Ciele Athletics, the performance headwear and apparel brand born in Montreal, Canada, has officially launched in China through an exclusive partnership with China’s leading sports retail operator, TOPSPORTS. As Ciele’s exclusive operating partner in China, TOPSPORTS will oversee all aspects of the brand’s operations, including market promotion, channel sales and consumer operations.
Founded in 2014 by Jeremy Bresnen and Mike Giles, Ciele was created to fill a gap in the running market: stylish, performance-driven accessories and apparel. The brand’s signature running caps — made with technical fabrics like COOLmatic | PLUS and COOLmatic | EXP — offer lightweight, breathable comfort and packable designs. Ciele’s headwear has earned international acclaim, including the Runner’s World Gear of the Year award for its GOCap in 2025, and has sold more than 1 million hats globally.
Ciele’s offering currently includes three primary headwear silhouettes (caps, visors and bucket hats) and a full range of men’s and women’s running apparel. The brand’s product lines — Originals, Performance Run (PR), Elite, Life Editions (LE) and Cold Weather (CW) — cover everything from race-day essentials to everyday gear, catering to runners of all backgrounds.
The partnership with TOPSPORTS marks another milestone in the brand’s expansion. Known for its strong retail network and deep knowledge of China’s sports market, TOPSPORTS also partners with leading sports brands such as Nike, adidas, HOKA, ASICS and Kailas. Its growing focus on premium running brands includes recent launches with norda™ and SOAR. In addition to its brand partnerships, TOPSPORTS has launched innovative community-driven initiatives to engage runners seeking self-expression and deeper connection, strengthening brand loyalty through shared culture, experience and community.
With TOPSPORTS’ support, Ciele will soon open its official online flagship stores in China and activate offline channels to reach the country’s fast-growing running community.
“We’re thrilled to partner with TOPSPORTS to bring Ciele Athletics to the Chinese running community,” said Jano Arabaghian, CEO of Ciele Athletics. “Their forward-thinking vision and deep expertise in the market make them an ideal partner as we enter this next chapter. Together, we’re excited to move people to movement in China and continue expanding the places where runners around the world connect with Ciele.”
“Ciele is a valuable addition to our growing running portfolio,” said Iain Ding, TOPSPORTS vice president of brand incubation. “With its iconic headwear, expanding product range and distinct yet inclusive design language, Ciele is uniquely positioned to connect with Chinese runners — supported by TOPSPORTS’ operational strength and deep market insight.”
