Ciele Athletics Launches in China Through an Exclusive Operating Partnership With TOPSPORTS

July 10, 2025

TOPSPORTS expands its running ecosystem by partnering exclusively with Ciele Athletics, the industry leader in technical headwear

CMONTREAL (July 10, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ — 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,” says 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,” says 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.”

About Ciele Athletics Inc.

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 2014 by Jeremy Bresnen and Mike Giles, Ciele Athletics offers high-performance, durable and lightweight headwear and apparel collections designed for runners around the world. The brand is available in more than 1,300 stores in 43 countries. Ciele Athletics is a B Corp–certified company committed to continuously working toward better solutions, from product development to manufacturing partners to community action.

About TOPSPORTS

TOPSPORTS is a leading sportswear retail operator in China, with more than 5,000 directly operated stores across 300-plus cities in China and long-term partnerships with more than 10 top global sports brands, including Nike, adidas, Vans and HOKA, among others. The company has built an omni-channel ecosystem centered on directly operated stores, enabling seamless interaction with over 80 million users.

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Justina Rapala Nielsen | FORTE MARE
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