A GUIDE TO THE PROGRESSIVE WORLD OF ASICS SNEAKERS: The Styles That Transcend Sport and Streetwear

Established back in 1949 under the Onitsuka Co. name by Kihachiro Onitsuka, ASICS continues to stand proudly as not only one of Japan’s premier sportswear brands, but as one of the longest standing sportswear brands across the globe. An acronym for the Latin phrase anima sana in corpore sano, translated as “a sound body in a sound mind”, the brand has spent the last 76 years cultivating a dedicated following for their combination of sporting excellence and the aesthetic DNA that pervades their products.

Originally launching on the market with basketball shoes, the Mexico 66 model saw the brand skyrocket in popularity, with iconic martial artist Bruce Lee popularising the low-profile sneaker silhouette due to its appearance in the film Game of Death. Renaming to ASICS a year prior, Onitsuka’s sporting goods brand was cemented in the annals of sneaker history from that point onwards, creating a variety of iconic sneakers both revered in the streetwear subculture and performance world alike.

Helped in no small part by their continued dedication to pushing the envelope with new and exciting silhouettes, ASICS’ archive is brimming with sneakers that have become cult favourites and icons of sneaker culture. From the GEL-KAYANO 14 to the GEL-NIMBUS 10.1, we take a closer look at some of ASICS’ pivotal sneaker styles for men and women ahead of the launch of the END. x ASICS GEL-NIMBUS™ 10.1.

One of the many jewels in ASICS’ crown, the GEL-KAYANO 14 sneaker has quietly become a firm favourite of many for its wearability and enduring sense of style. Nodding to ‘00s design language, the sneaker returned in the early 2020s, reinterpreting previous iterations with upgraded tooling, materials and components. Inspired by the original make-up from 2008, GEL technology cushioning offers premium comfort and shock absorption. The first sneaker in the GEL-KAYANO series to not be designed by Toshikazu Kayano, the shoe was designed by Hidenori Yamashita. The GEL-KAYANO 14’s resurgence has seen the sneaker pivot from its athletic origins, instead being adopted by the lifestyle market following increased attention due to the continued popularity of the Y2K era as well as high-profile collaborations with JJJJound, A.P.C. and UNAFFECTED.

A recent addition to the ASICS footwear offering, the GEL-NYC sneaker capitalises on the brand’s extensive archive, fusing together references from the GEL-NIMBUS 3 and the GEL-MC PLUS V sneakers. Blending retro influences from the early ‘00s, the sneaker’s make-up and chunky aesthetic is underpinned with modern performance running tech, utilising the GEL-CUMULUS 16’s tooling system, lightweight foams and GEL technology inserts throughout the midsole to deliver premium comfort underfoot. With special edition versions of the sneaker cooked up by AWAKE NY, Cecilie Bahnsen and HIDDEN, amongst others, the sneaker has quickly become a firm favourite amongst sneaker connoisseurs.

Further tapping into the fervour around turn of the millennium aesthetics, interest in Y2K style has reached fever pitch with the GEL-NIMBUS 10.1 sneaker. Boldly distinctive in its asymmetrical design, the SportStyle sneaker blends the comfort of retro running models with ASICS’ advanced tech throughout. Punctuating the upper with open mesh, a trademark of late ‘00s sneakers, the shoe was originally designed to accommodate the natural shape of the foot. A style that feels at home in your sneaker rotation now as it may have done 17 years ago, the GEL-NIMBUS 10.1 silhouette is the perfect canvas for END. and ASICS’ latest collaboration.

Moving things on from Y2K fever, ASICS’ GT-2160 sneaker from the early 2010s has returned to great effect, capitalising on the blend of lifestyle and sporty appeal that the Japanese brand does so well. Paying homage to the technicality of the GT-2000 series, the shoe showcases the distinctive segmented midsole that was synonymous with ASICS sneakers during the era. GEL technology inserts to the sole unit and metallic panels offer the perfect combination of heritage style and future-facing design, bringing elements of ASICS’ sneaker design history into the present day.

First dropping in 2024, the GEL-QUANTUM 360 VIII sneaker has already made a sizeable impression for its combination of modern tech, striking visual style and lauded collaborations with the likes of C.P. Company and Cecilie Bahnsen. Designed in conjunction with ASICS’ Institute of Sport Science, the progressive athletic sneaker draws inspiration from the flow of natural shapes and complexity of interlocking forms, as evidenced across the sneaker’s upper, boasting 5D print details that mimic ergonomic contours for an aesthetic that merges the natural and the man-made for a futuristic outlook.