ASICS was founded in 1949 in Kobe, Japan, by Kihachiro Onitsuka, who was a former track and field athlete. Onitsuka was inspired to start the company after witnessing the physical and mental benefits that sports and athletics had on young people in post-war Japan. He believed that by promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, he could help to build a more positive and hopeful society.
Onitsuka initially started the company as a producer of basketball shoes, but soon expanded to include a wide range of athletic footwear and equipment for a variety of sports. The company's first shoe, the Onitsuka Tiger, was released in 1950 and was designed to be lightweight and comfortable, with a focus on support and stability.
ASICS has since become one of the most respected and well-known sports footwear and equipment companies in the world, with a strong focus on innovation, performance, and comfort.
The name ASICS is an acronym for the Latin phrase "Anima Sana In Corpore Sano," which means "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body." ASICS has a long history of producing high-quality athletic shoes, and in recent years, the company has become more closely associated with streetwear. Many streetwear enthusiasts appreciate ASICS' focus on functionality and comfort, as well as the company's use of innovative materials and technologies in its shoes. ASICS has also collaborated with a number of popular streetwear brands, further cementing its place in the streetwear community.
ASICS has a history of collaborating with artists and other brands to create limited edition shoe releases. Some of the most notable ASICS collaborations include:
- ASICS x KIKO KOSTADINOV: In 2021, ASICS teamed up with Bulgarian designer Kiko Kostadinov to release a collection of sneakers inspired by the designer's minimalist aesthetic.
- ASICS x atmos: ASICS has collaborated with Japanese streetwear brand atmos on a number of occasions, including the release of a limited edition Gel-Lyte III sneaker in 2016 and a Gel-Kayano 5 360 shoe in 2020.
- ASICS x ALIFE: In 2018, ASICS worked with New York-based streetwear brand ALIFE to release a collection of Gel-Kayano 24 sneakers in a range of bold colors.
- ASICS x KITH: ASICS has also collaborated with KITH, a New York-based streetwear retailer, on several occasions. One notable collaboration was the release of a Gel-Lyte III shoe in 2016, which featured a split tongue design inspired by the ASICS Gel-Lyte III shoe from the 1990s.
These are just a few examples of the many collaborations that ASICS has done over the years. The company continues to work with a variety of artists and brands to create unique, limited edition shoe releases.
Explore the entire ASICS collection here.