Asics is linking up with Seoul-based designer Juntae Kim for the new Gel-Kinetic FR.
Juntae Kim©
The collaborative project, which was revealed along with the designer’s SS27 collection, introduces a uniquely designed silhouette that fuses Juntae Kim’s romantic and punk aesthetics with Asics’ utilitarian approach. Created with the “Dressneaker” design concept, it takes on the refined elements of a dress shoe and injects them into a functional Asics performance sneaker.
Juntae Kim©
Kim brings his brand’s signature flower motif and translates it into detachable hardware on the shoe, giving us a range of customisable styling options in one shoe. The Gel-Kinetic FRs will be dropping in three distinct colourways: a burgundy/black, a grey/black and a striking purple.
Juntae Kim©
Juntae Kim©
“At a time when Hallyu [Korean Wave] is consumed globally as a cultural code, Juntae Kim does not package Koreanness into a polished image,” said the label in a statement. “Instead, the brand discovers a new possibility for Korean punk through something worn, distorted and rebellious.”
Juntae Kim©
Asics has been killing it recently with exciting and innovative collaborations such as the Asics x Empty Behavior Hypersync and the Asics x Griff Gel Cumulus 16 – giving their collaborators the freedom to bring new concepts and silhouettes to the table, and let their design DNA shine through.
Juntae Kim©
Juntae Kim©
The Asics x Juntae Kim Gel-Kinetic FR is scheduled to release in the second half of 2026.
