THE INCREDIBLE COLLABORATION BETWEEN HIGH FASHION DESIGNER KIKO KOSTADINOV AND ASICS

Kiko Kostadinov’s imprint on the fashion industry is already crazy impactful. So impactful that at this point there is already a loyal fan base. A fan base following his journey step by step. In recent years, Kostadinov has become a topic on it’s own and most importantly, he keeps bringing more to the table.

Kostadinov’s collaborations with Asics have become somewhat like a cult thing. So therefore here’s a summary of the amazing Asics footwear he put out.

BEFORE ALL ELSE

They started their collaboration off with a bang, a sneaker that wasn’t at all at the level of hype of what it is right now. Nonetheless, the Asics x Kiko Kostadinov GEL-Burz 1 dropped in the spring of 2018. Multiple colorways were released, such as the ‘Black’, ‘Birch’ and the ‘Limeade’ colorway. The ‘Limeade’ is the most sought after colorway with the highest selling rate on the current market. This sneaker will most likely catch your eye, as it has a vibrant yellow color. However, they were only released at DoverStreetMarket-London which adds to the exclusivity.

THE SECOND BATCH

Fairly quick after the first release of the GEL-Burz 1’s, they came with a second trio of bangers. You can probably guess it, the GEL-Burz 2’s. A beautiful silhouette, inspired by pottery, just like the first version, although these shoes feature some key elements of the GEL-Nimbus 20 and the GEL-Venture 6. Coming in three colorways; ‘Forrest’, ‘Seafoam’ and ‘Terracotta’.

IN A FLOW

How to follow-up on such amazing sneakers you might ask. Kostadinov knows how, by releasing the Asics x Kiko Kostadinov GEL-Delva 1 in late 2018. Another trio with the familiar Kiko signature looks, which makes his collaborations so recognizable.

The sneakers came as their predecessors in three colorways: ‘Pine Green’, ‘Rosewood Brown’ and ‘Cement Black’. Where the last three pairs were dropped late in 2018, the new colorways of these sneakers were released very soon after. To be specifically, on the 18th of January 2019. Again, releasing a trilogy of colors. Including the ‘Coolmist/Forest Green’, the ‘Murasaki/Performance Black’ and the ‘Tai-Chi/ Yellow Taupe’ colorway. In contrast to the first colorways of the GEL-Delva 1’s, the colors were very lively.

TOO FUTURISTIC?

Through this immense success he achieved on all these sneakers, Kostadinov held his own and kept on creating a multiplex of different silhouettes. Such as the GEL-Kiril models, the GEL-Sokat models, the GEL-Nepxa models and a few other variations, which you will see below. All of these sneakers are so modern, so much thought out and futuristic, that I think no one was really ready for them, maybe they are way before their time.

SPORTY TYPE A BEAT

I’d like to mention the Kiril versions explicitly. These sporty and streamlined shoes would catch any eye with their vigorousness. Especially the first Kiril’s, they consist of the ‘Black’, ‘Cilantro’ and ‘Ice Mint’ colorways, with different shapes and textures all over the sneakers.

The Kiril 2’s were released in October of 2020. They don’t include a lacing system, but it works with a small stream-lined velcro strip and has a small Asics logo on the upper side of the tongue. The upper fully made out of mesh fabric while keeping the basis of the original Kiril’s.

We were told that the Kiril 2’s were going to be the final release of their collaborative collections. Fooled were we to think that this extremely well co-operating pair would just end their great working relationship with a vingersnap. However, they re-ignited their collaboration by releasing the Asics UB1-S GEL-Kayano 14 by Kiko Kostadinov, released on the 27th of November, 2020.

The new partnership between Asics and Kiko Kostadinov will see him working on new collections of the Asics Sportstyle department.

FOR WOMEN ONLY

He also created two pairs of female only silhouettes. These two were the GEL-Auriana and the GEL-Gesserit sneakers. The GEL-Gesserit iterations will inevitably give you that cyclist- or track shoe feeling, while the Auriana gives you more like a futuristic feeling with that air-bubble beneath the heel.