Courtesy of Asics
Fashion house KENZO enters the sneaker industry through a collaboration with Japanese sportswear brand ASICS. Three gender-neutral styled pairs are set to hit the market this month, with an exclusive raffle happening on KENZO’s website today.
KENZO will be making its foray into the sneaker market through a collaboration with the Japanese athletic brand ASICS. The first drop of the KENZO x ASICS will be launched through an exclusive raffle happening on the fashion house’s website today, before it becomes available to the public in KENZO stores and select retailers on January 26th. Upon release, the sneakers will retail for €290.
Expanding into this space is an embodiment of KENZO artistic director Nigo’s desire to reconnect with the House’s early codes, producing “designer fashion created for real life, imbued with the playful urbanity of Kenzo Takada’s timeless legacy.” The collaboration introduces three gender-neutral styles that seamlessly fuse KENZO’s vibrant heritage with the technical expertise that ASICS, as a sportswear brand, is known for.
The collection is a relaunch of the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20, a cushioned running sneaker that was introduced back in 2013. KENZO’s reimagining of this resilient and breathable shoe underscores the brand’s commitment to establishing its presence in the competitive sneaker landscape.
The shoe boasts a two-layer midsole and outsole featuring EVA, TPU, GEL technology, and rubber, therefore making it optimal for multipurpose use that can range from running exercises to casual strolls around the city. Meanwhile, its design elements draw inspiration from KENZO’s signature tiger graphics and apply faux fur on the upper surface of the pair.
One of the shoes is decked in a combination of blue, lime green, and orange hues, while another pays homage to the original GEL-KAYANO’s sober silver, gold, and white colorway. Lastly, the third style displays a bevy of fresh, vivid colors—consisting of blue, green, pink, yellow, and orange—which are contrasted by a sporty white shade. In each design, the shoe’s right tongue is adorned with the ASICS label, while KENZO’s distinctive logo graces the left; both of which are enclosed in a unique co-branded packaging that adds to collaboration’s visual appeal.
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