A Mysterious Japanese Rock Band Is Behind This Techy ASICS Sneaker
Nobody quite knows who designed ASICS' new Gel-Kayano 14 sneakers.
The shoe is a collaboration between the sportswear giant and Zutto Mayonaka de Iinoni (or ZUTOMAYO, for short), a Japanese rock band with an ever-changing cast of members and an enigmatic lead singer (named ACAne) who keeps their identity obscured.
But whoever the mystery people behind ZUTOMAYO are, they certainly know how to elevate a classic ASICS sneaker.
The rock band has wrapped the ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 in a cord that weaves in and out of various ghillie lace loops. At the back, the cord can be adjusted through a bungee system typically found on trail sneakers.
The end result creates an excess of laces reminiscent of Andersson Bell’s ASICS collaboration from a few years back.
Offered in either white or black, with hits of ZUTOMAYO’s signature purple hue, there’s no word yet on when the shoes will be released.
So far, ZUTOMAYO’s only recognition of these sneakers’ existence is a photo of an ASICS shoebox shared on Instagram — trust a mysterious Japanese rock band to cryptically tease its newest merch.
This is ASICS’ second time tapping into the Japanese rock music scene of late. At the tail end of last year, it engineered an experimental-looking sneaker designed to support Taka, lead singer of the band One Ok Rock, while performing.
Technical sneakers and Japanese rock. It's a pretty niche crossover, and it's producing some great-looking footwear.
