We shall birth this introduction bluntly -- any footwear classed under the ‘FASHION’ header would ordinarily act as a passing interest to us. Occasionally, the odd release does catch our eye, most recently for example the ASICS x VIVIENNE WESTWOOD GEL-KAYANO™ 26 who may have bagged a winner.
Vivienne’s second project with ASICS uses the hyper-technical Gel Kayano 26 as its base layer -- the latest evolution of the famed Kayano line, a franchise that has been at the forefront of long-distance running since its 1993 debut year.
Inspiration was drawn from Westwood & (Malcolm) McLaren’s Autumn/Winter 1982-83 Nostalgia of Mud collection ‘sack shoe’. A tribute to early civilisational footwear, crafted from a single piece of wrap-around leather thus throwing things right back to when footwear was built with the SOLE intention of protecting one’s foot.
This 2020 update sees the simple sack wrap-around upper placed upon the Gel Kayano 26 as a loosely-connected holdall, switching up leather-twining for technical netting and an elasticated toggled closing system. Other details include Vivienne Westwood’s signature Orb logo embedded within the heel counter and a mock-patina that gradually darkens towards the shoes rear.
OUR TAKE: We knew this would be a polarising post with it being one of the most extroverted shoes we’ve received this year, but it came as a surprise after posting on our story that so many shared our positive view of the shoe. ASICS continue to use great base models for their fashion collaborations, leaving an interesting shoe that still performs under pressure and now with added storage for your next lockdown stock-up!
Photography: Morgan
Artwork: Varker
Words: Tommy Corlito