Sivasdescalzo and ASICS have teamed up for their first-ever collaboration. As part of the debut collection, Sivasdescalzo has been given the chance to rework ASICS’ iconic GEL-Lyte 3.
Following hot on the heels of Concepts’ tuna-inspired GL3, the Sivasdescalzo x ASICS GEL-Lyte 3 takes a slightly different approach in its inspiration, which is rooted in eco-conscious design. That is mirrored in the material choices and colorway, the latter of which is left rather muted.
The project is set to be released on June 26, with the raffle for the sneakers open on Sivadescalzo’s official site from June 18 to June 25.
Ahead of the drop, we caught up with Rubén García, the retailer’s procurement director, who gave us some insights into the design, colorway, and why this collaboration marks a special chapter in Sivasdescalzo’s history.
What serves as the inspiration for the project?
While the inspiration of the project is definitely eco-based, there was one thing that we always kept going back to: the yin and yang symbol. How two seemingly contradictory things can actually come together in harmony and perfectly complement each other. Raw materials blended with recycled materials are then processed and swing back full circle to organic origins.
Walk me through the materials and the colorway.
We placed emphasis on how the selected materials interconnected with each other and played off one another; the smooth qualities of the eco-suede and recycled leather overlays combined with the rough textures of the organic cotton upper and jute fiber laces, but we didn’t just stop there. We wanted to make sure that not only the materials were complimentary, but the colors were as well.
Why the GEL-Lyte 3?
We’ve always been fans of the silhouette, it was such a groundbreaking model when it was originally released. We had the chance to talk to Shigeyuki Mitsui back in 2019, during Paris Fashion Week, and were fascinated hearing firsthand how he challenged the contemporary notions of sneaker design in the early ’90s. He broke with the traditional color schemes and ordinary design methods to create a truly unique model that’s stood the test of time.
The silhouette provided the perfect canvas to recreate the eco-friendly design aspects we were aiming for on the entire model itself. Each material is able to stand out, but at the same time coexist in an organic way that highlights the silhouette’s iconic design.
What eco-conscious details were included in the design?
All the materials that we’ve used for the silhouette come from natural or recycled origins. The elements that are not organic have all been recycled or taken from excess materials from ASICS’ factories. For example, the suede and leather materials seen on the overlays of the upper are residues from the cutting process of other uppers. The insoles are made out of 100% recycled plastic bottles, the toe box and upper integrate plant-based fabrics, and the midsole is made out of cellulose nanofiber that comes from wood pulp.
What’s your favorite detail?
This would have to be the recycled foam seen on the tongue that wraps around to the heel. It was a painstaking process to get this perfect. The foam comes from unused materials from ASICS’ factories that are mixed together, compressed, and then cut. It was really complicated to get the right mix of colors that reflected our vision and the right mix of materials to ensure a quality result.
If you could choose any ASICS model to follow up this collaboration, which would it be?
That’s a no-brainer for me. It would be the GEL-Kayano 17. It’s my favorite running model of theirs, and I’d really love to give it a complete lifestyle twist.
The Sivasdescalzo x ASICS GEL-Lyte 3 drops on June 26. To sign up for the raffle, head here.
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