Andrew Rizzo For the debut of the original GEL-NYC, ASICS kept it local by tapping Angelo Baque’s AWAKE NY to introduce the silhouette and kickstart its rise within ASICS’ Sportstyle lineup. Building on that momentum, ASICS is now ready to unveil a successor in the GEL-NYC 2.0, this time turning to Australia’s HAL Studios for a collaboration that still feels unmistakably New York.
Before diving into the construction, the colorways tell much of the story. Leading the pack is a black-and-yellow option dubbed “Shaolin ’93,” a clear nod to Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), rendered in the group’s iconic palette and evoking memories of the legendary Wu-Tang Dunks. From there, the narrative shifts from Staten Island to Queensbridge with a black-and-brown colorway titled “Queens ’94,” paying homage to Nas’ landmark album Illmatic. In the background of HAL Studios’ product imagery, a black-and-white friends-and-family pair can also be spotted, possibly referencing Biggie’s Ready to Die, which also dropped in 1994.
Material choices further anchor the project in the physical fabric of New York City. Reflective hits and textured underlays reference utility grates, while metal snaps at the eyelets nod to exposed steel beams. Debossed dot detailing across the leather quarter adds another industrial layer, and the heavy use of black throughout ties back to the pavement the city is built on. It’s worth noting that inline GEL-NYC 2.0 releases will likely opt for more conventional materials.
On the tooling side, the GEL-NYC 2.0 introduces several updates over the original. The midsole appears slightly chunkier, the mudguard has been removed, and the heel now features oval-shaped cutouts. The underlays are also offset from the overlays, creating added visual depth and a more layered look overall.
The HAL Studios x ASICS GEL-NYC 2.0 collection is confirmed to drop January 2026, although no concreate date has been announced yet. See detailed images below and stay tuned for further updates.
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- johnbouquet/IG and h.s.d.t/IG
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- johnbouquet/IG and h.s.d.t/IG
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- johnbouquet/IG and h.s.d.t/IG
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- johnbouquet/IG and h.s.d.t/IG
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- johnbouquet/IG and h.s.d.t/IG
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- johnbouquet/IG and h.s.d.t/IG
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- johnbouquet/IG and h.s.d.t/IG
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- johnbouquet/IG and h.s.d.t/IG
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- johnbouquet/IG and h.s.d.t/IG
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