Amtrak Unveils Trak Suit at New York Fashion Week

Amtrak has its reputation on getting you there, not on what you wear along the way.

That makes its latest move notable. Alongside the rollout of its NextGen Acela trains, the company released a limited-edition, two-piece fleece set dubbed the “Trak Suit.” It’s a simple idea—pairing a classic track suit with a no-fuss, practical way to travel—and a sign that Amtrak is thinking about image as much as infrastructure.

The Trak Suit was designed by Anastasiia Lukinskaia, a student at the New York School of Design, as the winning look at a competition that Amtrak staged during New York Fashion Week to underscore its commitment to comfort and style.

“We love showing up in unexpected places,” says Jessica Davidson, Amtrak’s vice president of digital and brand management. “As a heritage brand with more than 50 years of connecting people and communities, most people would not expect their next athleisure haul to feature Amtrak. Yet, here we are.”

As Amtrak rolls out a new fleet of trains, which also includes the Airo, the company is seeking to broaden its cultural reach and appeal to younger, more style-conscious customers. “With ‘Trak Suits, our goal was to meet the moment for the launch of NextGen Acela with a breakthrough collaboration that was authentic to Amtrak and conveyed the premium and modern style of our new trainsets,” she says.

The Trak Suit, which is constructed from microfiber fleece, reflects Acela’s brand palette of royal and teal blues, white, and red accents, and features embroidered logos, zipper pulls, and a technical detail that feels fun and practical.  There’s a detachable sleep mask built into a hood, as a wink to the sleep-inducing quality of train travel.

Lukinskaia said that her designs were inspired by her own train travels, as well as being an athlete. “Having a first-person experience made it very easy to navigate design details that would make a garment feel like a second skin,” she says.  “I also researched the history of train uniforms, Amtrak’s history, and unique collaborations between the fashion world and everyday brands.”

She also surveyed passengers about what they wore. “My design had to catch customers’ eyes, so people would want to wear it not only because of the brand, but because of how it makes them look and feel,” Lukinskaia says.

For Amtrak, choosing a student designer rather than an established fashion house was part of the point. “Partnering with a dynamic fashion school that is right in our backyard was a perfect fit,” Davidson says, referring to the proximity of Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station to Manhattan’s Garment District.

The Trak Suit also arrives at a moment when Amtrak is feeling newly confident. “We just set records for revenue and ridership as we closed the fiscal year, breaking all-time company records,” Davidson says.

The Trak Suit is only available for a limited time, and there’s no word yet on future collaborations. Meanwhile, Lukinskaia is looking forward to seeing her design on a train platform. “I wanted the customer to feel like they were entering their home, wrapped in a blanket, ready to sit back and relax, rather than sweating in uncomfortable clothes on a long ride,” she says.