Following the reveal at New York Comic Con in October, a release date for Asics’ next anime collaboration has been locked in.

The “Bleach” x Asics GT-2160 “Ichigo” and Gel-NYC “Renji” will release just days after Christmas. The two colorways have been done up for their namesake characters, with Ichigo Kurosaki’s GT-2160 arriving in white, black, orange and red to match his uniform and hair color. His name appears in Japanese characters beneath the lateral collar, and the Soul Reaper mark appears on the heel.

Renji Abarai’s Gel-NYC is also modeled after his hair and uniform in red, black and gold, while his name appears in Japanese characters at the same place as its counterpart. On the heel, you’ll find mismatched symbols representing his 6th Division of the Goeti 13.

Anime collaborations are becoming more prolific in sneakers, as a “Demon Slayer” x Adidas capsule also made its debut at New York Comic Con before releasing in November. Crocs has taken to the medium quite strongly, as its anime collaborations include “Demon Slayer” and “Naruto”; and Asics collaborated with “Naruto” earlier this year as well with just 2,000 pairs of sneakers made available in the U.S.

The “Bleach” x Asics GT-2160 “Ichigo” and Gel-NYC “Renji” will release December 27 through Foot Locker and Champ Sports. Pricing for the GT-2160 is set at $165 and the Gel-NYC $145.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

Following the premiere of the Netflix miniseries “Senna,” Asics has made a special edition of the Gel-Kayano 14 to commemorate Ayrton Senna.

The Ayrton Senna x Asics Gel-Kayano 14 “Lotus” and “McLaren” take after two of the Formula 1 cars driven by the late Brazillian legend. Black and gold dresses the pair inspired by the Lotus 97T and its John Player Special livery. “Seek Your Truth” appears on a lateral overlay beneath the collar, while green, yellow and blue carry over from the Brazilian flag and Senna’s famous helmet to hangtags affixed to the eyestay and the tongue tag.

White and red Marlboro livery from the McLaren MP4/4 then dresses the second Gel-Kayano 14, which features the same Brazilian detailing and the Japanese characters for “Ayrton Senna” replacing the “Seek Your Truth” wordmark.

Senna won three world championship titles and was the record-holder for most pole positions at 65 at the time of his passing. He died during injuries sustained in a crash at the 1994 San Marino Gran Prix, and safety reforms in response to his death helped prevent another fatality from occurring in Formula 1 until 2015.

Japan holds Senna in particularly high regard because of his place in the formation of the McLaren Honda team, which marked the Japanese automaker’s return to the sport following a 15-year hiatus.

“Senna,” a six-episode miniseries following the life of its namesake, premiered November 29. Although critical reviews have been mixed, it’s reached the no. 2 viewership spot in Brazil, where it was produced with an ambitious $170 million budget, and no. 6 worldwide.

The Ayrton Senna x Asics Gel-Kayano 14 “Lotus” and “McLaren” will release December 9 in Brazil before a worldwide launch December 10. Pricing for the sneakers has yet to be announced.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

For his second Asics collaboration, Josué Thomas not only put together a trio of compelling colorways replete with personal nods. The Gallery Dept. founder also created an entirely new silhouette.

Before month’s end, Thomas — through his renowned Los Angeles-based fashion label — and Asics will introduce the Gel-K1011, a new sneaker that features elements from the Gel-Kayano 10, the Gel-Kayano 6 and the Gel-Kayano 5, as well as other classics from the Japanese sportswear company.

Specifically, the uppers includes details sourced from the Gel-Kayano 5 (the tongue loop), Gel-Kayano 6 and Gel-Kayano 10 (the tiger stripes), and the tooling comes from the Gel-Cumulus 17. The tech includes Asics’ Trusstic innovation at the midfoot for support, as well as rear and forefoot Gel cushioning for shock absorption and layered Flytefoam and Flytefoam Propel for comfort.

Aside from the shoe’s colorways, the new model’s name is also deeply personal to Thomas. The Asics Gel-K1011 pays tribute to Apartment 1011, which is where he first discovered his passion for both sports and fitness.

“We are very intentional with the partners we choose to work with and we particularly aim to align with partners who have a unique style and individual story to share,” Asics North America senior director of merchandising Kelly Fatouretchi told FN. “This is not the first time we have partnered with Josue and the Gallery Dept. team and we were excited to see Josue’s creativity and perspective shine as we took on this second project and developed the Gel-K1011.”

As for the collaboration’s three colorways, each one was inspired by a different part of Thomas’ creative journey. For instance, the “Black/White” look was created as an homage to one of his favorite artists, and the “Khaki/Clay Canyon” look is a nod to trail running. Also, the “White/Pure Silver” iteration was described as a “crisp, clean take on classic sports aesthetics” and “designed for universal appeal.”

The three limited-edition Gallery Dept. x Asics Gel-K1011 colorways arrive Dec. 6 exclusively in Gallery Dept. stores. An online release via Gallerydept.com will take place Dec. 7 and then select retailers globally will offer the shoe on Dec. 12. Retail price for the “Black/White” look is $325 and the other colorways will sell for $295.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Asics, Adidas and Timberland have all performed exceptionally well on StockX throughout 2024, and that success continued during Cyber Week.

On Tuesday, StockX revealed several highlights from Cyber Week, which took place from Wednesday (Nov. 27) to Monday (Dec. 2). This included a strong performance of Asics. StockX confirmed Asics had multiple releases among the top 100 best-selling products throughout Cyber Weekend, which was measured from Friday (Nov. 29) to Monday (Dec. 2), and that the top picks included the Gel-1130 “Black Pure Silver” and the Gel-Kayano 14 “Cream Black Metallic Plum.”

What’s more, StockX stated Asics — one of the platform’s fastest-growing sneaker brands — will set a new sales record in 2024. Asics was one of the fastest-growing brands on StockX in 2023, which has continued throughout 2024, and has been a mainstay on the marketplace’s trend reports.

As for Adidas, the marketplace stated the Spezial ranked among the top 100 products on Cyber Weekend for the first time. Specifically, the women’s Handball Spezial “Earth Strata Gum” and the Handball Spezial “Navy Gum” ranked in the top 100.

The Timberland 6-Inch Boot, too, had a strong showing. Led by trades of the iconic boot, StockX confirmed Timberland experienced triple-digit growth on Black Friday. Much like Asics, Timberland, too, has experienced massive sales growth on StockX in 2024. For instance, in its “Big Facts: Brands Making Moves” trend report released in August, StockX stated Timberland experienced 184 percent growth for the first six months of 2024 (Jan. 1 to June 30) compared to the same period in 2023.

Another Cyber Week standout from the “Sneakers” category on StockX was the Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack TR “Dark Mocha” — which released on Nov. 26 — landing among the top-traded sneakers with an average resale price of more than $400. Also, the Air Jordan 11 Retro “Legend Blue” that released Nov. 26 via shock drop on the SNKRS app was a top pick throughout the weekend.

As for the “Shoes” category, the Ugg Lowmel Boot was among the top 30 best-selling products during Cyber Weekend and multiple Yeezy slides — including “Slate Grey” and “Dark Onyx” — were among the top-traded products, with an average price of roughly $100.

In terms of overall performance, StockX stated year-over-year trades on Wednesday (Nov. 27) and Thursday (Nov. 28) were up nearly 40 percent and 50 percent, respectively, and the six-day shopping week closed with more trades than the same time period in 2023. Also, single-day sales records using Xpress Ship, the marketplace’s quick shipping feature, were set from Wednesday through Cyber Monday.

“This Cyber Weekend was a testament to the continued demand for sought-after products around the globe,” StockX president, chief operating officer and co-founder Greg Schwartz said in a statement. “Though many consumers remain price-conscious this year, we saw record trades on Cyber Monday and multiple brands achieved triple-digit growth over 2023. These results reflect the trust our community has in StockX and the power of our vast product catalog of sought-after items.”

He continued, “We expect this momentum to continue through the holiday season, and our team will be ready to deliver a best-in-class experience for both buyers and sellers.”

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Asics is going green with its latest sneaker launch.

The Neocurve uses the materials from grinded-up footwear, deadstock, and defective shoes.

The Japanese brand took a deep dive into its own trash to find the materials then teamed up with Fast Feet Grinded, a Netherlands-based footwear recycling company on the materials. The company disassembled discarded footwear and separated the materials that Asics provided them with.

The sneaker is exclusive to Europe — it is designed and crafted at Studio Hagel in Amsterdam, Netherlands in order to reduce CO2 emissions.

“For our concept, we always wanted to innovate but at the same time, stay true to the brand. We went through all the catalogues at the Asics European head office dating back 35 years and selected the styles that resonated with us. From there we started playing and experimenting to see how far we could push the concept to create something new and innovative,” said Mathieu Hagelaars, creative director of Studio Hagel.

The Neocurve is Asics’ pledge to commit to sustainable practices.

“Yet, as environmental challenges intensify, we recognize that the future of sport, and the mental wellbeing benefits it brings, is under threat,” said the brand in a statement.

The new sneakers feature a wave design with metallic finishes that have become synonymous with the brand.

Earlier this month, Asics reported results for the first nine months of the year that showed solid growth across several regions and channels, including in North America.

According to the Japan-based athletic brand, gross profit increased 26.7 percent to 290 billion yen. Net sales for the first nine months of 2024 jumped 17.3 percent to 525 billion yen, driven by strong sales across all categories.

There’s no need to save the box for the new Asics sneaker dropping this weekend, and that’s because it looks like a cardboard box itself.

The Doublet x Asics Gel-Kayano 20 takes on the appearance of shoe packaging but also follows the same theme as a shoulder bag released by the Japanese streetwear brand in 2020. Cardboard brown takes over the bulk of the sneaker, with printed detailing throughout the sneaker mimicking what you’d find on packaging. The effect is rendered asymmetrically across the two sneakers for a patchwork effect that includes hits of white and pink, as well as a left toe patch in blue bearing Doublet’s name. A darker shade of brown is also used for the overlays, including Tiger Stripes, as well as the gel units that give the shoe its name.

If you want to make a sneaker out of cardboard, you can do so by cutting out the lines the drawn on the actual box the Gel-Kayano 20 comes packaged in.

This collaboration marks not only the first time Asics and Doublet have worked together but also the first high-profile sneaker release for the brand founded in 2012 and named an LVMH Prize finalist in 2018. Doublet has regularly worked with Suicoke on sandals and slippers through this decade, and it also dropped a DC sneaker in 2020.

The Doublet x Asics Gel-Kayano 20 will release Saturday, November 16, through Asics’ website and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $225.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.

With the year winding down, StockX has revealed its latest Big Facts trend report, offering insights into the brands, collaborations and sneakers that have led the way in 2024. Though several trends emerged, the continued ascent of two brands in particular stands out: Asics and Puma.

Asics

Asics’ recent success on StockX is well documented, and a slowdown anytime soon doesn’t seem likely.

“I applaud Asics for its ability to transcend its traditional niche as a performance running shoe brand,” Drew Haines, StockX merchandising director for sneakers, told FN. “While the brand recognizes that its strength lies in its heritage as a performance brand, it has also done a great job of innovating to appeal to the modern consumers looking for comfortable lifestyle sneakers.”

In its new report, StockX revealed trades of the Gel-1130 sneaker increased 1,074 percent year-over-year. This was measured from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 over the same period in 2023. Also, trades of the Mexico 66 from Asics’ fashion-focused Onitsuka Tiger imprint increased 845 percent year-over-year.

In terms of top searched brands, searches for Asics increased 3,268 percent in Q3 2024 over the same period in 2023, and searches for Onitsuka Tiger increased 375 percent.

As for the top searched silhouettes, the Onitsuka Tiger Tokuten was in the top five, with an increase of 2,607 percent in Q3 2024 over the same period in 2023. Also, searches for the Asics Gel-1130 increased 299 percent.

And there’s a lot of buzz around Asics when it comes to holiday shopping. StockX noted that more than 55,000 holiday-inspired wish lists have been created on the platform, and the Gel-1130 is among the most wished-for products.

Puma

Puma is also gaining momentum on the marketplace.

StockX revealed in this trend report that Puma is a top searched brand, with an increase of 2,022 percent from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 over the same period in 2023. The only sneaker brand with a greater spike in 2024 thus far was Asics.

Also, the Puma Speedcat was one of the top searched silhouettes, with a 2,638 percent increase in Q3 2024 over the same period in 2023. The Palermo also made the list with a 669 percent increase.

“[These increases] can be attributed to a combination of nostalgic appeal, versatility, comfort and their alignment with broader cultural and fashion trends,” Haines said. “Puma was able to capitalize on the broader trend of soccer-inspired footwear, bringing back classic models and driving success with younger consumers, similar to how Adidas has seen remarkable success with models like the Samba and Gazelle.”

Nike and Jordan Brand

Nike and Jordan Brand have been mainstays on the secondary market, and even though other brands have gained ground, they remain giants.

“Historically, most of what drives the sneaker market is lifestyle products, however we’ve seen Nike make gains in its performance categories. Running — both performance and running-inspired lifestyle models — specifically has been big for the brand,” Haines said.

The P-6000 from Nike has had a solid 2024, with trades of the sneaker increasing 1,202 percent year-over-year, from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31 over the year prior.

However, their success was felt the most when it comes to collaborations. The top three collaborations with the highest average price premiums on StockX in 2024 and at least 500 trades were all Nike and Jordan Brand.

Leading the way was the Cactus Plant Flea Market x Nike Air Force 1 Low “Market Fuchsia,” which had a 255 percent average price premium from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, and a $523 average resale price. Following that was the Travis Scott x Air Jordan 1 Retro Low OG SP “Olive” (222 percent percent average price premium, $484 average resale price) and the Travis Scott x Jordan Jumpman Jack TR “University Red” (201 percent percent average price premium, $601 average resale price).

In terms of the top searched silhouettes, the Air Jordan 3 had a 3,223 percent increase in Q3 2024 over the same period in 2023, which was followed by the Nike Initiator (1,884 percent), the Nike Air Terra Humara (1,359 percent), the Nike Air Tech Challenge 2 (757 percent), the Nike LeBron 21 (743 percent) and the Nike Kobe 4 Protro (359 percent).

As for this year’s holiday wish list, Nike and Jordan Brand have by far the most of any brand. The Air Jordan 4 accounts for 22 percent of the most wished-for products on StockX, followed by the Air Jordan 1 (16 percent), the Nike Dunk (14 percent), the Nike Kobe 6 (2 percent), the AIr Jordan 3 (4 percent), the Nike Air Force 1 (4 percent) and the Air Jordan 11 (5 percent).

Adidas

Adidas had an undeniable hit with its first signature shoe for NBA star Anthony Edwards, the AE 1, which also performed well on StockX. It confirmed consumers spent more than $3.6 million for pairs on the platform from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31.

“The demand for performance basketball sneakers is strong, and the AE 1 has become a standout hit thanks to its perfect fusion of high-fashion style, celebrity appeal and performance-driven features,” Haines said. “With the signature sneaker of Anthony Edwards, one of the NBA’s most promising young stars, Adidas effectively capitalized on the rising demand for premium, lifestyle-oriented sneakers, all while staying true to its legacy of quality and innovation.”

He continued, “The AE 1 has undoubtedly been one of the top basketball models of the year, and given its success, we can expect more in-demand drops from this product line moving forward.”

As for the brand’s top searched silhouettes, the Spezial had a 543 percent increase in Q3 2024 over the year prior. Also, Adidas had one of the year’s top searched collaborations, its Wales Bonner-reimagined Sambas, which increased 305 percent for the same period.

Adidas, too, have shoes that are in high demand for the holidays, specifically looks from its collaboration with polarizing rapper Kanye West. Yeezy Boost claimed 3 percent of wish-list spots, and Yeezy Slides accounted for 5 percent.

About the Author

Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.

Asics reported results for the first nine months of the year that showed solid growth across several regions and channels, including in North America.

According to the Japan-based athletic brand, gross profit increased 26.7 percent to 290 billion yen. Net sales for the first nine months of 2024 jumped 17.3 percent to 525 billion yen, driven by strong sales across all categories.

By category, sales in performance running increased 13.7 percent, core performance sports increased 6.3 percent, apparel and equipment sales increased 4 percent and Onitsuka Tiger net sales increased 52.7 percent. Sportstyle sales increased 63.4 percent, driven by strong sales in all regions.

In North America, revenues were up 18.7 percent to 104 billion yen, driven by strong sales in the performance running and sportstyle categories, the latter of which achieved a sales increase of over two times in the region.

Asics has recently ramped up its efforts to claim a top spot in the competitive running market in the U.S., a strategy that largely depends on deepening its connection with the run specialty retail channel. In June, Asics increased its share in the run specialty channel in North America by 13.1 percent while reducing the number of entry models. Asics also tightened its owned retail store count to 72 stores in the first half of the year.

Asics president and chief operating officer Mitsuyuki Tominaga told FN in an April interview that the company is doubling-down on its investment into run specialty, creating innovative products and thinking about its broader role in the running ecosystem, which could include additional services and experiences outside of its core products.

Outside of the U.S., sales in the first nine months of the year also increased double digits in Japan, Europe, Greater China and the Southeast and South Asia regions.

Since returning in 2020 as part of designer Kiko Kostadinov’s UB line, the Asics Gel-Kayano 14 has emerged as one of the brand’s most popular 2000s-era running shoes. And while some of the brand’s buzz may have transitioned to silhouettes like the GT-2160 as of late, the Gel-Kayano 14 is already cemented as one of the defining sneakers of the last few years. Soon, it will receive a new look courtesy of Boston-based retailer Concepts.

Although fall is fully in swing, Concepts is set to give the Asics Gel-Kayano 14 a makeover that’s perfectly suited for warmer weather. The “Out of Office” theme brings vacation vibes with hues that shift from neon green to red atop a white mesh base. Cream-colored synthetic overlays add a beach-like aesthetic, while the shoe’s visible Gel cushioning is colored in a metallic gold. The official colorway for the sneaker is “Cannoli Cream/Poinciana.”

Concepts has yet to formally announce the collaboration, but photographer Oscar Castillo, who shot the images seen here, says the shoe is “inspired by the importance of listening to your body and taking a break from work in order to recharge your mind and creative spirit.”

In addition to the photos seen here, Concepts creative director Deon Point shared a teaser for the sneaker to his Instagram on Oct. 20. 

Although Concepts hasn’t been quite as active on the collaboration front in 2024 as it has in years past, the brand has had other high-profile projects including a New Balance 1906U “Hours and Days” sneaker inspired by its previous New Balance 999 “SEAL” design as well as an exclusive launch of Jayson Tatum’s Jordan Tatum 3 signature sneaker alongside a matching Air Jordan 1 Low. 

The Concepts x Asics Gel-Kayano 14 “Out of Office” collaboration is set to be released in November. Retail pricing has not yet been confirmed.

Pickeball Shoe Styles From Nike, Asics and More

View Gallery 11 Images

No sneaker brand is closer to Ronnie Fieg and Kith than Asics, as the Japanese company gave Fieg his first opportunity to design a sneaker while working for David Z and the first collaboration for Kith upon its launch in 2011. That relationship is still going strong to this day, as Fieg has revealed two new sneakers for their next chapter.

Fieg posted a Kith x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1 and Gel-Nimbus 10.1 to his social media channels Wednesday, both of which take on soft colors. The Gel-Kayano 12.1 is the more colorful of the duo, as translucent TPU overlays appear in mint green to match the lining and a portion of the midsole. Cream is then used for the upper’s mesh base, as well as the laces and another portion of the midsole. The Gel units appear in a dark green, while the outsole is rendered in black. The left tongue features the Japanese Kanji for “Kayano” and the right “friend,” and further down on both is Kith’s logo.

Various shades of grey and cream define the Gel-Nimbus 10.1, which features a monochrome grey sole unit. Kith branding appears on the right tongue and both heels.

The Gel-Kayano 12.1, which applies the Nimbus 17 sole unit to the Gel-Kayano 12, was just introduced by Kith over the summer. As its name suggests, the Gel-Nimbus 10.1 is also a hybrid model, as the Gel-Nimbus 10 was just introduced with a Gel-Kayano 14 sole unit this year as well.

The Kith x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1 and Gel-Nimbus 10.1 will be made available through a drawing opening Friday, October 18, through the Kith app. Another release will then follow Monday, October 21, through Kith’s website and physical stores. Pricing has not yet been confirmed.

About the Author:

Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.