Stylish marketing stunt aims to prove product value

In marketing stunt, Ministry of Supply exec runs half marathon in company’s newest business attire, and breaks a Guinness World Record.

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Would you run 13 miles to promote your company? That’s exactly what Ministry of Supply co-founder Gihan Amarasiriwardena did—13.1 miles, to be exact—all while wearing a suit and tie.

Amarasiriwardena set a Guinness World Record for running a half marathon in a suit last month at the “Half MerryThon” in Massachusetts. He was wearing his company’s latest product, the Aviator II suit.

Fast Company tells his story—from starting up his apparel business to training for the half marathon on the streets of Boston.

This well-documented half-marathon run wasn’t just some random gimmick, though. Ministry of Supply’s suits are intentionally made like sports apparel, and include wicking fabric that allows for greater range of movement. RELATED: Free download: How organizational newsrooms and content platforms have evolved and intersected.

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