Matt Varga Updated September 25th, 2026: After a series of teasers and dripped first-looks through the Kith Footwear Archive, the ASICS GEL-Lyte III “Salmon Toe” is officially set for a release on Monday, September 28th, 2026. As Kith’s first-ever sneaker collab and the store’s officialy introduction into the world, the “Salmon Toe” would set the foundation for an insanely deep catalog of footwear projects that span nearly every brand on the market.
This commemorative edition introduces a new premium material execution, with a pigskin nubuck upper and perforations across the vamp and quarter panels. Additional details include asymmetrical ASICS and FIEG branding on the split tongues and heel tabs, along with ASICS and Kith 15th Anniversary artwork printed on the footbeds. The pair arrives in a custom shoebox featuring all-over wood grain artwork and co-branding, a final nod to Kith’s first store and the origins of the “Salmon Toe.”
Updated September 23rd, 2026: Following tacit confirmation KITH: The Footwear Archive, Ronnie Fieg has officially confirmed the ASICS GEL-Lyte III “Salmon Toe” retro. Leaning into the fishy aspect of his grail-level release, a cellophane-wrapped version of the shoe bears an expiry date of September 28th; the shoe drops then for $195. The 2026 version is expected to remain true to the original, yet by building on ASICS’ “Remastered” shape and carrying FIEG stamps on the heel, this bring-back edition carries enough in the finer details to stand apart.
Original article published September 10th, 2026:
Given the breadth of the Ronnie Fieg empire, with footholds from Osaka to Paris, it’s hard to imagine the humbler beginnings of where KITH started off. Yet with the brand and founder celebrating their 15th anniversary, that origin story has been in the background throughout 2026 as the always healthy slate of collaborative sneakers and apparel has trickled out of New York City. It would appear that we’re turning back the page to some of their very first works, as Ronnie Fieg shared a teaser of a KITH x ASICS GEL-Lyte III “Salmon Toe” Retro.
The original GEL-Lyte III “Salmon Toe” was released as a highly-limited drop to celebrate the first KITH location opening its doors, marking Fieg’s ascension from buyer at family-owned David Z. into a brand owner unto himself. Just 72 were launched in person, with an additional allotment of 300 let loose via the brand’s online presence. Said rosy colorway came after a run of David Z. collab editions that were headed and curated by Fieg, but the “Salmon Toe” was the truly monumental colorway, helping push the GL3 into its status as the defining suede runner of the 2010s and serving as the stepping-stone for KITH’s rise into a can’t-miss collaborator in sneakers at large.
Original pairs will comfortably run you over $2,000, but to alleviate those grail-level resale prices, KITH has revisited the concept on certain milestones in the time since. For the fifth anniversary in 2016, a “2.0” version with darkened midsoles hit shelves, and in 2021, the brand adapted the colorway onto the ASICS GEL-Lyte 5. Though it’s impossible to make out the full scope of what 2026 will bring from this initial teaser, this rear angle appears true to the original, but a FiEG logo in place of the standard “ASICS” serves as a distinguishing detail.
This initial shot was shared by Ronnie via his Instagram broadcast channel; beyond that, there’s little information available at the time of this writing. If he and KITH plan on sticking firm to the 15th anniversary, a release is in play for September 30th.
