Flowers are usually celebrated at full bloom. For its first collaboration with ASICS, JUNTAE KIM looks instead at what happens after the peak: the slow curl, dry-out and fade of petals. The result is the GEL-KINETIC FR, a hybrid dress sneaker arriving on November 20.
The Japanese sportswear name and the fashion label build the shoe around the designer's signature floral motif, filtered through a romantic-meets-punk sensibility. The GEL-KINETIC FR sits between two worlds, pairing the polished air of a traditional dress shoe with the technical, performance-minded profile of an athletic sneaker.
The concept is rooted in imperfection. Withered petals and stamens, with their irregular and organic shapes, inspire gradient color treatments that run across the upper, the forefoot and the ASICS stripe logo. The fade is deliberate, creating a conversation between understated formality and sculptural sneaker construction.
The collaboration comes in three tonal colorways: Black, Navy and Red. The shoe is built from a mix of synthetic and genuine leather, adding texture and a refined character on top of a performance-driven foundation. Detachable floral hardware completes the design, bringing the floral theme into the details.
The JUNTAE KIM x ASICS GEL-KINETIC FR is scheduled to release on November 20.