Kith has been one of Asics’ go-to collaborators in recent years when they are gearing up to revive another retro running shoe. This week, the store’s founder and chief creative Ronnie Fieg has teased his latest work with the Japanese footwear brand, showing off a new pair of the GEL-Kayano 12, coming this Summer.
The popularity of Asics’ retro running shoes has skyrocketed in recent years, thanks to the newfound love of comfort above all else in the world of sneakers. Additionally, the takeover of ‘dad’ shoe styling has made the brand’s vast archives a huge source of inspiration for their new releases. The main franchise getting the retro treatment has been the Kayano series, a product line that originated in 1993 and still releases yearly updates with the best performance tech Asics has to offer. For the past two years, the GEL-Kayano 14 has been one of the brand’s flagship lifestyle models, but now Ronnie Fieg has teased the return of another older silhouette, through a collaboration with Kith.
Fieg and his brand/retail store Kith has been at the front of trendsetting since the store’s rise to fame in the mid 2010s. Ronnie and his team seem to have an unprecedented eye for stylish cut and sew apparel, as well as their choices in sneaker collaborations, for which they are likely most famous. This week, Ronnie teased his next project with Asics, despite the fact that their “Seoul” GEL-Lyte III released just a few weeks ago. This time, Kith is helping to launch the return of the GEL-Kayano 12, the 2006 edition from the storied product line. Featuring a similar upper construction to the 14th iteration, the pair of the 12 seen here features a slightly different midsole from its original release, which more closely resembles modern GEL cushioning, as seen on the GEL-NYC. As one would expect from kith, the shoe comes in shades of off-white and tan, with metallic silver overlays and a splash of black accents.
KITH X ASICS GEL-KAYANO 12 RELEASE INFORMATION
Kith’s latest release with Asics has not been officially announced yet, but Ronnie Fieg’s teaser of the new model means we will likely see them launch sometime in Summer 2024. This collaboration will mark the return of the GEL-Kayano 12, likely bringing us a string of in-line releases from the Japanese brand throughout the rest of the year. Check out Ronnie’s teaser photos below for a better look at the special-edition pair, and stay tuned to JustFreshKicks for more Asics release news, like Field Trip Recording‘s bright take Kayano 14 releasing later this month.
Ronnie Fieg x ASICS GEL-Kayano 12.1
Release Date: June 21, 2024 (Raffle)
Release Date: June 24, 2024 (Kith)
UPDATE 6/21/24: The raffle for the Kith x Asics GEL-Kayano 12.1 is now open via the Kith app, with a wider release via the brand’s website and retail stores on June 24th.
