Let's face it – Kiko Kostadinov is the best thing to ever happen to ASICS. A bold claim, sure, but given how much heat has flown out of the brand's doors since the British designer stepped into the fold, both through his seasonal third-party collaborations and in-house tinkering as a creative lead for ASICS Sportstyle, it's a difficult one to dispute.
Since the release of the collaborative GEL-Burz 1 back in 2018, the pair's co-creations have continued to be met with huge success, often flying off virtual shelves within minutes. Despite the popularity of these styles, including those that could easily be considered somewhat of a niche, you won't find yourself battered by their presence day-to-day – if anything, they've remained somewhat "if you know, you know" styles that you'll spot in the wild sporadically.
Whether you're keen on the GEL-Burz 2, GEL-Korika, GEL-Kiril 2, GEL-Kayano 14 UB1-S, or otherwise, there are plenty of styles worthy of praise and desire – and the below pairs are Highsnobiety's staff's favorites.
"ASICS’s NOVABLAST is probably my favorite ever silhouette (I mean, I’m wearing a pair right now). A little futuristic at a glance, the NOVABLAST finds the perfect blend between performance and everyday wear, making it ideal for both the pub and Sunday long runs. That being said, when Kiko had a go on the NOVABLAST back in 2020 under his then guise AFFIX WORKS, the “Brown Storm” take proved a little too nice to run in – but you get my drift." - Tayler Wilson, Style Writer
"The only thing better than the Kiko Kostadinov's ASICS GEL-Korika is the no-nonsense, belly-out campaign lensed by Juergen Teller. One of the first in-line sneakers his studio designed with ASICS, the GEL-Korika is one of the more accessible silhouettes envisioned by Kostadinov but it gets really good in the vivid women's colorway created by Laura Deanna Fanning, the sister designers who oversee Kostadinov's womenswear. A futuristic runner deserves a futuristic colorway." - Jake Silbert, News Editor
"The sneaker that really put me onto the Kiko x ASICS collaboration, I'm so annoyed I didn't cop a pair of GEL-Delva 1s when they first came out — I swear I remember even seeing them in sales. This brown and orange colorway is my favorite one that they ever released but, of course, they cost an arm and a leg at resale now." - Tom Barker, Style Writer
"For me it's the GEL-Kiril from 2020. I wasn't sure of this pair in its bright blue & yellow colorway but the tonal black is perfect. The checkerboard motif is spot-on with mesh and gloss contrasts. It's a bold silhouette with great detailing but in all-black it's never too much." - Alek Rose, Branded Shopping Editor
"I’d definitely have to go with the Gel-Quantum Levitrack from 2021 in the black and yellow colorway. When it comes to ASICS I’m a huge GEL fan, so when I saw how decked out this pair was it was an instant must-have. The flipped football-style ASICS branding also had me hooked." - Rhianna Matthews, Curation Manager
“Back when these were released, chunky sneakers were still dominating the market and you barely had any alternative silhouettes. So when I saw them for the first time I instantly liked them, simply because there was nothing that looked like them.” - Yulia Pankova, Content Merchandiser
"Although this pair isn't an official collaboration, the work of Kiko and his design team on ASICS Sportstyle's general release styles should not, and cannot go overlooked. The last three pairs of kicks I've reached into my pocket for have all been their work – and these are easily my favorite. This isn't the type of palette I'd typically go for on any sneaker, but something about them demands attention. Despite being so...bold, somehow, they go with everything." - Sam Cole, Style Writer
