The shoe brand Asics and the Düsseldorf sneaker retailer Afew have collaborated to launch a new sneaker.
The design focus of the sneaker, called Gel-Lyte III Beauty of Imperfections, is – as the name suggests – in the aesthetics of the imperfect. The design concept is based on the Japanese term “Wabi-Sabi”, Asics announced last week. Wabi-Sabi is a philosophical approach that describes a natural imperfection in objects.
In the case of the sneaker, the side stripes are made from a material that changes as you wear it. Asics refers to the process as “wear away,” where the surface “forms its own texture.” The shoe model is inspired by the Gel-Lyte III, which was first launched by Asics in 1990.
Afew was founded in Dusseldorf in 2008. In addition to classic sneakers, the store is known for its range of exclusive and limited models that make the hearts of die-hard sneakerheads beat faster. The Asics sneaker became available through a raffle in Afew’s online shop on Saturday. According to the two companies, further purchase options are to follow.