Inspired by Japanese bamboo weaving, Kengo Kuma’s shoes for ASICS are like ‘moving architecture’

Teaming up with the renowned Japanese Architect Kengo Kuma, ASICS has unveiled the latest edition of the Metaride, an all-white running shoe with a pattern inspired by Japanese Yatara bamboo-weaving, on the shoe’s body. The fabric strips wrap themselves in a seemingly chaotic way, but in fact, are strategically placed to hold the foot steady by binding with the shoe’s innovative Flytefoam base that uses cellulose nanofiber, a strong and lightweight wood-pulp derived material currently being researched and explored in Japan.

The shoe is described as ‘moving architecture’ by Kuma, who relied on the age-old technique of Yatara to provide aesthetic dynamism as well as a comfortable fit. The synthetic stripes wrap all around the shoe’s upper, securing your foot in place, while also cleverly forming the Asics stripe pattern on the side. The base is two-fold, with a brown midsole that breaks the all-white shoe’s design, and a white outsole at the bottom. The brown midsole is made from Flytefoam which uses cellulose nanofiber for strength and durability, while also remaining ecologically friendly. The CNF design gives the shoe’s sole its signature shape, with an upward-facing toe region that helps you run more comfortably. Right under the midsole is the white outsole which has a ‘Flytefoam Propel’ gel pad at the heel to give the shoe its enhanced cushioning and the wearer a literal spring in the step!

Designer: Kengo Kuma for ASICS

Asics’ Gel-Quantum running shoe gets a special Tokyo 2020 makeover!

Created by the Gold Partner of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Asics has released a special edition of their Gel-Quantum running shoes with a vibrant color gradient and the Tokyo 2020 branding on the sides as well as the shoe tongue and rear. The shoes come with gel-cushioning in the rearfoot and forefoot and were created as a special commemorative series for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. I imagine the rainbow gradient would look absolutely fantastic when in motion, and I don’t see why this shouldn’t become a collectible item sometime in the future!

Designer: Asics

My Asics 2.0 provides adaptive training plans to runners on Android and iOS

My Asics 20 provides adaptive training to Android and iOS runners

Asics has had personalized training plans on its website for a while, but they haven't been much help for runners who've already laced up their shoes. Those plans are now much more accessible courtesy of the company's new My Asics 2.0 for Android and iOS. Like its web counterpart, the mobile app builds a schedule around a runner's abilities and goals, adjusting the difficulty level based on feedback. Accordingly, a new plan view makes it easier to see what's next on the agenda. If you've ever needed more challenge in your morning run, you can grab the updated My Asics app at the source link.

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Via: My Asics Team Blog

Source: My Asics