It’s hard to imagine a better pairing than Asics and JJJJound. It’s not that the brands stem from identical places in terms of their ethos but rather that each has made their bones by way of a deeply curated sense of identity. Asics has become one of the hottest names in sneakers not because they finally started caving to trends, but because the trends finally bent to their will. Their silhouettes have always stemmed from the functionality of running shoes and they stick with their tried-and-true design elements, namely mesh panelling and reflective details. JJJJound isn’t exactly a minimalist brand, but they prioritize doing the simple things right, from color to drape to quality of materials.
Maybe it’s each brand’s clarity of identity that’s made their partnership feel so seamless. Neither steps on the others’ toes, each bringing out the best in their partner. Their initial two collaborations were pure heat—the first, in 2022, helped put the Asics Gel-Kayano 14 on the lifestyle sneaker map—and their third is sure to be one of the most coveted shoes of the summer.
This week, Asics and JJJJound are dropping their latest joint: two new JJJJound-ed up colorways of the still-red-hot Gel-Kayano 14. The first version maps silver reflective detailing across a white mesh upper. Black graces the Asics stripes with Carolina blue adorning the sockliner and embossed throughout the white heel. For the second, that same base color scheme of silver reflective material on a white upper stays, but the black is subbed out for a deep navy, which also graces the sockliner. It mixes things up with cream-colored laces and a sole to match.
Here’s hoping the marriage between Asics and JJJJound doesn’t go anywhere any time soon. They’ve become one of the most consistent couples in sneakers. You can buy the latest Asics x JJJJound Gel-Kayano 14s on June 12 at 11 a.m. EST from JJJJound.com and select retailers.
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