Andrew Rizzo Looking to the past to inform the future has been a fruitful tactic for ASICS. Many of the brand’s most popular tech runners debuted in the late 2000s and were archived in the years following their release, only to be brought back to much acclaim. Given the Japanese brand’s industry-leading growth, it’s fair to say no sneaker company has done more to bring Y2K aesthetics into mainstream popularity.
If there’s any one moment in time that can be referenced as the beginning of ASICS’ modern spike, it’s when 2008’s GEL-Kayano 14 returned to shelves in 2020. Collaborations with jjjjound, KITH, and atmos stoked the flames, and now nearly five years after its resurrection, even mainline Kayano 14s are met with extraordinary demand by both diehard sneakerheads and casual consumers all the same. Now ASICS has revisited its longstanding running series once again, bringing back the GEL-Kayano 5 from 1999 in two original colorways.
Both looks sport a “dad shoe” aesthetic through white leather and mesh, with accent colors pasted notably on the quarter branding and underlays. One pair features a Wu-Tang-worthy black and yellow mix, while its counterpart balances between black, blue, and yellow hits. Notably, ASICS brought back the latter pair in 2018 but there was little consumer interest, with most sizes eventually going on sale.
Both ASICS GEL-Kayano 5s are available now exclusively at KITH for $120 a pop. See our respective “Where To Buy” sections below for purchase links.
WHERE TO BUY
ASICS GEL-Kayano 5 OG
US 08/13/2024 Tuesday
| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| KITH | Standard | Check Site |
WHERE TO BUY
ASICS GEL-Kayano 5 OG
US 08/13/2024 Tuesday
| Retailer | Release type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| KITH | Standard | Check Site |
Photos via KITH.
