How Artist Greg Itahara Turned the Lowly Singlet Into the Coolest Canvas

October 10, 2025

At the Chicago Marathon this weekend, every competing runner will have a story for what brought them to the starting line. Some, however, will actually wear their story on their sleeve—or, rather, on their sleeveless singlet. Enter Greg Itahara, a Chicago-based artist whose hand-painted singlets have become some of the most meaningful garments in the sport.

Itahara has built an underground following for his one-of-a-kind designs, which have appeared in major marathons around the world—and have caught the eye of major brands, too, including Nike, rabbit, and Saysky. But for Itahara, it’s not about the big names or Instagram likes. It’s about storytelling.

Stories like that of Vince Ramos’ 4-year-old niece, in recovery from a battle with sarcoma, illustrate the deeply personal nature of Itahara’s RIUNwork. Ramos, a Chicago-based runner and realtor, commissioned him to hand-paint a singlet for the 2025 Berlin Marathon, where he raised funds for Camp One Step, a children’s oncology foundation. Run Outside Online