From their Modern Tokyo Pack design to newer releases such as their Beauty of Imperfection shoes, we’ve seen countless innovative and unique iterations of the classic ASICS GEL-LYTE III as the years have gone by. This time is no different.
In celebration of their 30th anniversary of the GEL-LYTE III, ASICS has launched their new Art In Motion collection in collaboration with three creatives from Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand respectively. Namely, our own beloved Malaysian graffiti artist, Kenji Chai, was one of the talented few who participated in this collaboration, putting his own creative spin on the brand’s iconic shoe!
Drawing inspiration from his iconic Chaigo alter ego and graffiti background, Kenji’s design, ASICS GEL-1130, sports a vibrant blue and green colourway and camouflage pattern that definitely stands out from the rest. Speaking with Kenji himself, we were able to understand the inspiration and story behind his design.
Having originally worked in a magazine company as a graphic designer, Kenji found corporate work too restricting on his own creative expression. “For example, I can’t change the corporate colours from yellow to red or red to yellow,” he explained. “I was working in a box.”
It was then he began exploring graffiti art to regain his childlike love for art, spray painting on walls and feeling proud of what he created. In this way, he forged a new path for his passion and wanted to share that fighting spirit in the ASICS GEL-1130.
“You can see the camouflage design, it represents the fighting spirit like a soldier,” he told us. “Not just in art, but in everything we do to chase our dreams, it’s really a long path. I hope that my fans or people who really look into Chaigo can wear (these shoes) and keep on fighting until their dreams realise.”
If you love these shoes just as much as we do, you’ll be stoked to hear that you can pre-order them now via the link, here! Not only that, if you pre-order the shoes now, you’ll also gain an exclusive chance to meet Kenji Chai in person. Just RSVP and Register for the event happening on the 13th May, here.
