Zurich, Switzerland · The Global Elite Awards proudly announces ON as the Leading Performance Innovation Brand in Global Sportswear 2026. This distinguished recognition celebrates a Performance Innovation Brand that redefines what serious sportswear can mean for the modern athlete and the modern consumer, combining the patented CloudTec sole engineering, a Swiss design language, and a clearly stated commitment to running performance into a single integrated proposition. The award places ON among an elite international cohort of brands setting new standards across the global sportswear landscape in 2026.
A New Standard in Performance Innovation Sportswear
ON stands as a distinctive presence in the international Performance Innovation Brand landscape, founded in Zurich in 2010 on the conviction that running shoe design had stagnated and deserved a fundamental engineering rethink. Each shoe reflects a careful balance between the patented CloudTec cushioning system and the restrained Swiss visual language that has defined the brand from its first prototype, setting a new benchmark for what performance footwear can offer to a discerning international athlete. In a category dominated by heritage giants and look-alike performance silhouettes, the company has carved a distinctive position in the market by leading with engineering thesis rather than marketing budget, an approach that has earned it recognition from elite triathletes, marathon runners, and the wider design community.
The brand’s positioning sits firmly within the premium performance and design-led sportswear categories, appealing to serious runners, performance-focused consumers, and the international clientele drawn to engineering credibility over fashion-led drops. With distribution that prioritises specialty running retail and owned flagships alongside considered fashion partnerships, ON has built relationships with the most respected running specialty retailers, considered luxury department stores, and lifestyle platforms across Europe, North America, and Asia.
CloudTec Engineering and Swiss Craft
Founded by former professional triathlete Olivier Bernhard alongside David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti, with Roger Federer as a long-standing investor and creative collaborator, ON showcases meticulous attention to detail at every stage of the product. From the CloudTec sole pods and the engineered upper materials to the apparel range, the in-store experience, and the curation of the wider Performance Innovation Brand world, no element is left to chance. The founders’ background in elite triathlon, the company’s combined experience across Swiss engineering and global brand-building, and its recognition by the international running community combine to give ON a category authority that very few new sportswear brands can match.
Each shoe in the ON library is built around a defined engineering architecture: a clear functional purpose, a considered combination of CloudTec cushioning and engineered upper construction, and a ride that delivers performance beyond the typical commercial expectation. This is sportswear designed to be run in seriously, not merely worn as a lifestyle reference, an approach that places ON firmly in the category of considered Performance Innovation Brand rather than seasonal sneaker product.
An Elevated Performance Experience
More than a running brand, ON offers a complete performance proposition. Each product is designed to integrate seamlessly into an athlete’s broader training life, with considered cushioning choices, restrained colour palettes, and a sense of engineering confidence and quiet competence that defines a true Performance Innovation Brand. The product, the retail experience, and the customer relationship are all calibrated to the same standard as the CloudTec engineering itself, signalling to discerning runners that they are engaging with a brand that respects the seriousness of their training.
Setting New Standards in Global Sportswear
The company reflects an unwavering dedication to engineering rigour, design restraint, and long-term performance credibility. The success of ON lies in its ability to meet the expectations of discerning runners and consumers who seek measurable performance, premium engineering standards, and enduring brand consistency. As the Performance Innovation Brand category continues to grow internationally, ON has demonstrated that genuine engineering craft and a coherent founding thesis remain not only commercially viable but increasingly differentiated in a market that has otherwise drifted toward fashion-led drops and overstated marketing claims.
About the Global Elite Awards
The Global Elite Awards honour exceptional companies and brands that exemplify excellence, innovation, and leadership across global industries. Each year, the Awards recognise elite houses and projects that set new standards of quality and prestige worldwide. Recipients are selected by an international panel of industry experts following a rigorous evaluation of craft, vision, and contribution to their category.
For more information visit on-hq.com and globaleliteawards.com.
