Paris Fashion Week has become an annual spectacle where the world’s leading fashion houses and designers converge to celebrate creativity and innovation. This year, ASICS, the renowned sportswear brand, joined the festivities with a captivating collection of collaborations that breathed new life into their classic silhouettes.
The collection, aptly titled SportStyle, showcases the unique interpretations of Cecilie Bahnsen, Doublet, and Kengo Kuma, each bringing their distinct perspectives to ASICS footwear. The unifying theme throughout is the brand’s core philosophy, reflected in the Latin phrase Anima Sana in Corpore Sano (ASICS), which translates to “Sound mind, sound body.” This intermingling of wellness and movement serves as the inspiration for each designer, allowing them to weave their own interpretations into the collection.
Cecilie Bahnsen, known for her luxurious couture creations, infuses her signature feminine style into the ASICS GEL-QUANTUM 360 VIII. Transforming the sneaker into a sandal, she embodies her vision of everyday couture. “I’ve always been drawn to the juxtaposition between femininity and elements that are more technical and sportive,” she explains. “I find inspiration in how I see my clothes being worn in real life, by the girls in our atelier and our community around the globe, often pairing a billowing dress with functional trainers or a delicate organza skirt and chunky sandals.”
Doublet, drawing inspiration from the linguistics term coined by Lewis Carroll, a “doublet,” which refers to word puzzles, reinterprets these puzzles into the GEL-KAYANO 20. The designer states, “The idea [behind] this collaboration was to show [only] one color and one material, which is the total opposite of the multicolored and [multi-material] approach that was used for the existing GEL-KAYANO 20.” This concept led to sneakers with a unique shoebox pattern, giving the impression of them being fresh out of the box.
Architect Kengo Kuma brings a unique perspective to the collection, drawing inspiration from Japanese architecture and interior design. His collaboration with ASICS sees the creation of the ASICS Archisite ORU, a translucent sneaker reminiscent of traditional Japanese paper. Kuma explains, “At first, Kuma-san proposed the idea of creating a shoe with a [sense] of duality that could [allow] it to be worn in different situations, such as at a construction site or in a hotel, so we decided on the theme of “ORU” (variable like origami) for this project.” This design allows for breathability and incorporates Kuma’s architectural vision into the sneaker.
Beyond the collaborations, ASICS also unveils new footwear additions for this monumental occasion. Inspired by their Digitune Pack, the brand introduced the GEL-QUANTUM 360 VIII DIGITUNE, embracing retrofuturism aesthetics. The GEL-NIMBUS 10.1 features a reimagined design, updating a classic silhouette for everyday comfort. With the Paris Olympics approaching, ASICS launches the Celebration of Sports Collection, showcasing the GEL-QUANTUM 360 VIII and the GT-2160 in a performance-driven update.
ASICS extends these innovations beyond footwear, merging fashion and sports with the ASICS SportStyle Apparel Collection, completing the brand’s new release series. To discover more about Kengo Kuma’s Asics collaboration and models like the ASICS GEL-QUANTUM 360 VIII, the GEL-KAYANO 20, and more, visit their official website.
