Boston-based illustrator, painter, and designer Victoria “ThirteenVic” DelValle recently shared a personal reflection on her latest collaboration with Brooks Running, marking a visual contribution to the 2025 Boston Marathon. She has taken to social media to reflect on DelValle was among a select group of creatives tapped to contribute original tote bag designs that centered on themes of community, emotion, and the high-energy anticipation of the race’s iconic start line.
“Wow, last night was amazing…” DelValle wrote in an Instagram post following the event, sharing images of her design process and a photo of herself holding up the final tote. Her artwork was developed in partnership with Brooks Running, as part of a larger initiative to visually represent the human side of the marathon experience.
“I had the extreme honor of collaborating with @brooksrunning on behalf of the Boston Marathon to create a tote bag design that was human-focused and captured the emotions + energy that takes place at the start line,” she explained.
The event, which served as both an unveiling and community activation, showcased DelValle’s tote alongside the work of fellow artists Silvia López Chavez and Kitsch Collins. All three designs were featured at the Brooks Running store on Newbury Street, where guests were able to get free tote bags custom heat-pressed on-site.
DelValle also credited Spencer Martino, who helped brief her on the project, as a key figure in guiding the creative process. “Big thanks to @spennymartino for briefing me on the project and being such a support,” she added.
Among those acknowledged in her post was Yves Solorzano (@yvesworld.co), who not only attended the event as DelValle’s guest but also captured a featured photograph displayed during the evening. DelValle noted the moment felt surreal as she saw people walking through the city with her tote bag in hand.
The tote bags became available to the public the following day, with heat pressing beginning at 11AM at the Brooks store located at 141 Newbury Street. DelValle encouraged those interested to pick one up “while supply lasts.”
With a mix of personal expression, public engagement, and a nod to the power of community-focused design, DelValle’s collaboration reflects an ongoing push in the creative space to bring more diverse narratives to large-scale events like the Boston Marathon.
