Red Run’s story: Building a purpose-driven brand through meaningful partnerships

 

Photo above, left to right: Deidre Bowen (Director of National Programmes, Mental Health UK) and Megan Kimmance (Creative Director and Co-Founder, Red Run)

Can you please tell us a little about Red Run and your connection to the brand?

Alongside my business partners, one of them being my sister, we started Red Run in 2021, shortly after we lost my father to mental health battles. Up to this point, I had worked in the fashion industry specialising in design/wholesale distribution for luxury brands such as Vivienne Westwood, KTZ & Pyer Moss.

Red Run is not only my job but it’s my passion – the fact I’ve been able to bring my vision to reality is the most rewarding thing and the fact I’ve done this with my sister and business partner, makes it all worthwhile. Since losing our Dad, I’ve channelled all my energy and creativity into this brand which I’m so incredibly proud of and know he would be too.

You’ve mentioned that a core part of your brand is its purpose, and this new Founder’s Club line is no exception. Can you explain what this partnership with Mental Health UK means to you personally?

I’ve been dreaming up Founders’ Club for a couple of years. We wanted to develop a brand with purpose and Founders’ Club presented the perfect opportunity to bring this to life – especially as we introduced menswear for the first time, so it made complete sense to pay tribute to my dad. As we lost Dad to mental health battles, we wanted to partner with a charity that resonated with his and our family’s experience and Mental Health UK does just that.

What’s been the biggest challenge about starting and owning a business like Red Run?

The activewear category has become oversaturated meaning there’s a lot of brands to compete with, so as a brand, it’s important we stay in our own lane and engaged with our customer to retain their interest/loyalty and allow the brand to grow. Collaboration plays an important piece in our strategy and 2025 will see our biggest yet – we are really proud of where Red Run currently is – we know exactly who we are as a brand, and I feel really positive about our future.

What excites you most about this partnership with Mental Health UK?

The fact that we, as a brand, can make a positive impact to a cause whose work I understand the importance of first hand. I’ve been very fortunate to channel the worst time of my life into something incredibly positive and I hope my story can inspire others too.

Anyone owning a business will know the dedication and stress that it involves. What are some of your own strategies to stay mentally healthy?

I have a very good circle of friends and family who are Red Run’s biggest cheerleaders – my partner Meg has played an integral role to Red Run’s success. She always offers me a different perspective and is very rational in her thinking, meaning she’s invaluable when it comes to big decision making on behalf of the brand. Also, having my business partner as my sister, means we always have that common ground and we both ultimately want the same goal for the brand.

Although I invest a lot of my time to the brand, I try to reset by spending time with my dogs, taking trips with family & friends and just generally surrounding myself with positive people. My circle is a very grounded bunch – there’s no room for ego in our friendship group and this in itself is so refreshing.

What message about mental health would you hope to share with your customers through this partnership?

Mental health affects most of us in some way – whether that’s personally or through someone you know/ are close to. It’s something that no one should ever be ashamed of and with the right support, it can be managed. Via Founders’ Club I can only hope that we can help raise awareness for MHUK and the important work they do and if we can impact even one customers life, that that is the most gratifying for me.