Set in the idyllic city of Paris during the vibrant and bustling Paris Fashion Week, ASICS SportStyle unveiled their upcoming collaborations in style. In the middle of the hip neighborhood of Le Marais, the ASICS SportStyle pop-up was set in 3537 along Rue Des Francs-Bourgeois — where Dover Street Little Market is also located. Alongside the showcase of their exclusive collaborations with Danish womenswear designer Cecilie Bahnsen, Montreal’s skateboard brand Dime, Australian streetwear and design brand HAL STUDIOS, and LA-based concept brand AIREI, the Paris pop-up also featured a digital installation of the brand’s ethos, ‘Sound Mind Sound Body’ to complete the experience. Through an immersive audio-visual installation by ExperiensS in collaboration with Monom Studios, the brand let pop-up guests feel a wave of movement through sound and light. We had the privilege to take part in this pop-up last June with the ASICS SportStyle Philippines team, so here’s a quick rundown of everything ASICS SportStyle in Paris Fashion Week 2023.
As you walk in the ASICS SportStyle space, you are greeted by a slew of aesthetic stories from the softness of Cecilie Bahnsen to AIREI’s conceptual and avant-garde take on the GT-2160, and the authentic expression of Dime’s skate and design roots to HAL STUDIOS’ play on the their inspiration of glaciers and putting that into the modern and mundane context. Each brand had their own unique take that showcases ASICS SportStyle’s commitment to expanding their technical expertise to the many different worlds of today.
Remaining true to her stylistic essence, Cecilie Bahnsen successfully recreates the ASICS SportStyle GT-2160 to live comfortably in their brand’s universe. The expression of the ‘Mary Jane’ shoes on the collaborative design brings the pair a natural feminine spirit without removing the sport and technical facets of ASICS — a seemingly effortless marriage of two aesthetics. The exclusive collaboration comes in two colorways: black and silver.
Dime’s ASICS SportStyle GT-2160 stays within its recent visual interpretations — a POV on contemporary skateboard culture and aesthetic. It is a beautiful balance between the ruggedness of skateboarding and the refined and contemporary approach to design. A welcome addition to their growing collection of footwear collaborations that are muted, rooted and wavy.
Inspired by the natural world, this third shoe of the ASICS and HAL STUDIOS collaboration trilogy uses the GEL-1130 MK III as the base and explores the elements of the world’s glaciers: the tones of black sand beaches, snow, ice and serene water valleys combined with the majestic terrains and proportions that glaciers exhibit. The GEL-1130 MK III “Glacier” offers a very minimal design at first glance but was designed with much depth — using different materials to express the many patterns and textures the natural world has to offer.
This exclusive collaboration of AIREI and ASICS is part of the Crafts for Mind program that aims to reinforce and expand the craftsmanship of long-lasting objects. With this in mind, AIREI introduces “Refuge, Deluge, Transfuge,” an idea that merges the avant-garde and designed craftsmanship of the two collaborating brands. The ASICS GT-2160 “Crafts for Mind by AIREI” is a very special one-of-a-kind shoe that features plaster construction on top of the uppers. It is consciously designed to symbolize the opportunity each wearer has to embark on their own journey in their own way — each shoe plaster will have its own unique breakdown depending on their use.
Outside the incredible collaborations launched during the pop-up, ASICS SportStyle also let the guests in their world of movement in mind, technology and innovation through the audio-visual installation at the basement of 3537. Upon entering the room you are greeted with darkness and silence. As soon as the show starts, ExperiensS’ exceptional 18 omnidirectional speakers and 400+ LEDs lets you in with all senses — “an intense and polysensorial choreography of light and sound.”
Lastly, since the pop-up was launched at the height of Paris’ Fete de la Musique, they had crowds of Parisians and tourists at the courtyard of 3537 converge for a party featuring a lineup of different artists and DJs. A welcome contrast to the romance and slowness of Paris, ASICS SportStyle made sure that their presence was felt in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
CREDITS
WRITER Marvin Conanan
PHOTOGRAPHERS Marvin Conanan & Stephane Sby Balmy
PARTNERSHIP WITH ASICS SportStyle Philippines
SUPPORT PURVEYR
If you like this story and would love to read more like it, we hope you can support us for as low as ₱100. This will help us continue what we do and feature more stories of creative Filipinos. You can subscribe to the fund or send us a tip.
