Janji makes running and workout clothes that support clean water initiatives around the world - here's what they're like

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• Janji is a Boston-based running apparel brand with a mission: working to bring awareness and provide aid to communities that lack access to clean water.
• Its men's and women's collections are inspired by the cultures, textiles, and colors found in countries affected by the global water crisis. Janji donates 5% of every sale to clean water initiatives in those countries.
• It's new Spring/Summer 2019 collection is inspired by Cambodia. I tried a few pieces from the men's collection, as well as the older Bolivia collection, and found them to be great for working out, running, and wearing casually.
• While some of the styles are more expensive than comparable pieces from sportswear giants, the quality is better - and it supports a great cause.

Water: It's the foundation of life as we know it, and essential to our survival. Still, even as the most vital resource on earth, many of us take it for granted.

What should be treated as a sacred gift from the planet we share is often thought to be infinite and always on tap for everyone. We take hour-long showers as a de-stresser, flush toilets after every single use no matter what, and toss half-finished water bottles because event venues rather we spend money inside. These wasteful luxuries illustrate just how privileged, and perhaps unaware, we really are.

Even if it doesn't affect your life on a daily basis (or ever), access to clean water is an issue that millions of people all over the world face. While one organization can't solve the problem on its own, a startup called Janji is doing its part to bring awareness and provide aid to the crisis through an unconventional method: running.

Janji creates collections of running apparel for men and women that are inspired by countries affected by the global water crisis, and then donates 5% of proceeds to clean water initiatives in those countries.

We first wrote about the Boston-based running apparel brand last year when it released its Uganda collection. Now, the brand is back with a new collection for Spring/Summer 2019. This time, Janji landed on Cambodia, a former Communist nation that's steadily growing and improving its infrastructure, as the subject of the collection.

I got to try some of the men's styles from the newest collection and talk to its founders about how they're using running to make positive changes around the world, why they chose Cambodia for its latest collection, and what initiatives the new collection specifically supports.

If you're more interested in learning about Janji's products than the story behind them, you can scroll down to my review of the clothes themselves towards the bottom of this post. Otherwise, you can keep reading to learn more about Janji's mission.

Why running?

Running is a universal sport. It has the ability to break down cultural barriers to unite athletes from all over the world. Unfortunately, a lack of clean water, which is essential to hydration, can keep athletes in impoverished areas from reaching their full performance potential or from simply running for the love of the sport.

Runners at heart, Janji founders David Spandorfer and Mike Burnstein wanted to change that for other runners and anyone else that need clean water.

"Running can help you explore, connect, and to really create substantial change - be it in yourself or in the world around you," Spandorfer told Business Insider. "Running is something that most of us can do, it's something that can forge connections, and we think it's the single best way to see the world."

Taking inspiration from and providing aid to Cambodia

Once Janji selects a country to design a collection around, it works hard to highlight that country's triumphs, beauty, and culture through its designs. "We chose to work with Cambodia because of its rich heritage and inspiration," said Spandorfer. It's a country with a fantastic art scene, vibrant cities, and beautiful parks. The country has been growing since the dark days of the Khmer Rouge, but still has unexplored areas that venture off the beaten path."

In Cambodia specifically, Janji has partnered with Clear Cambodia, a non-governmental organization that works to improve the health of rural Cambodian communities through increased access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education.

"Clear Cambodia is making a massive difference across Cambodia using BioSand filtration systems, resulting in clean, pathogen-free water at a low cost," Burnstein told Business Insider. "It's exciting to think of the impact Janji's community can have through our partnership with the organization."

The brand's principles alone are commendable, but after wearing a few pieces from the new Cambodia collection and the previous Bolivia collection, I can say that Janji is more than just a good cause. I found the crewneck sweatshirt, shorts, and T-shirt I tried to all be comfortable and of great quality.

Shop running apparel at Janji now.

Select Janji apparel is also available at REI here.

Keep reading to find out my full thoughts on the pieces, below: