Today, we review the SneakerLAH x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20 Ice Kacang in the Pearl Pink and Papaya colourway!
ASICS and the amazing crew at SneakerLAH have done it again! Led by head honcho Bryan Chin, they’re back with their fifth ASICS collaboration!
Inspired by Malaysia’s iconic shaved-ice dessert, this collaboration brings the delicious layers of ais kacang to life!
The retail price is $320 AUD, and you can enter the raffle through the ASICS Australia website. Good luck, gang!
In terms of sizing, the GEL-KAYANO 20 fits true to size for average-width feet. However, wide-footers should consider going half a size up.
Now, let’s break down those Ice Kacang-inspired details!
First, the predominantly white upper represents the mountain of shaved ice. Meanwhile, the pink panels recreate the sweet rose syrup poured over the top.
Next, the yellow lining, accents and insole details represent sweet corn. The criss-cross TPU FLUIDFIT cage mimics the drizzle of evaporated milk. Plus, the green GEL cushioning represents those iconic pandan-flavoured cendol strands.
The black outsole support system takes inspiration from grass jelly. Finally, the red accents represent sweet red beans.
But that’s not all! The pink printed artwork on the insoles represents the dessert after you mix all the ingredients together. What a cool detail!
SneakerLAH also adds an outdoor-inspired lace-lock system, signature “LAH” heel detailing and special-edition packaging.
Overall, this collaboration combines ASICS performance heritage with a delicious slice of Malaysian culture.
Moreover, the Pearl Pink and Papaya colourway looks fresh, the storytelling is fantastic, and those layered details make this pair stand out.
Honestly, the SneakerLAH x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20 “Ice Kacang” could easily crack my top 10 sneaker pickups this year!
Also, good luck to everyone entering the raffle. These kicks are ready to serve up some serious heat this summer!
Sydney is set to become a hub for automotive culture this November as SESSION 2026 returns with an expanded showcase of cars, lifestyle, entertainment and international talent, headlined by Hollywood star Sung Kang.
Taking place on Saturday, 28 November 2026, at the iconic White Bay Cruise Terminal in Rozelle, SESSION 2026 promises to bring together car enthusiasts, custom builders, automotive brands and the wider community for a full day celebrating the past, present and future of automotive culture.
Following its debut at Sydney Showground in 2025, the event returns with an enhanced format that goes beyond the traditional car show, combining automotive exhibitions, industry discussions, live demonstrations and exclusive experiences.
Sung Kang Brings Hollywood and Car Culture Together
One of the biggest highlights of SESSION 2026 is the appearance of Sung Kang, internationally recognised for his role as Han in the Fast & Furious franchise.
Kang will appear in connection with his latest automotive film project, DRIFTER, sharing insights into his passion for filmmaking, drifting and global car culture.
Attendees can look forward to an exclusive on-stage conversation, an audience Q&A and limited meet-and-greet opportunities, giving fans a chance to connect with one of the most recognisable figures associated with modern car culture.
His appearance adds an international dimension to an event that continues to build its place within Australia’s automotive scene.
With decades of Japanese heritage in automotive care, SOFT99 is known for its focus on quality, craftsmanship and innovation. Its involvement reflects the important role automotive detailing and vehicle care play within enthusiast culture.
As naming sponsor, SOFT99 Australia will have a prominent presence throughout the exhibition, helping bring together brands and enthusiasts who share a passion for automotive excellence.
More Than Just a Car Show
Built around the concept of Past, Present & Future, SESSION 2026 aims to showcase the many sides of automotive culture, from classic vehicles and Japanese icons to modern performance builds and emerging automotive technologies.
Visitors can expect a curated display of modified, performance, classic, exotic and Japanese vehicles, alongside exclusive unveilings, custom builds and appearances from Australian and international automotive brands.
The program will also feature industry panels, expert talks, live demonstrations, detailing and customisation showcases, automotive competitions and the SESSION Excellence Awards.
Food, entertainment and community activations round out the experience, creating an event designed to appeal to more than just dedicated car enthusiasts.
Featured brands and industry participants include MyPlates, RWB & Liberty Walk Australia, Inozetek USA and The Boring Concept, with further announcements expected ahead of the event.
Building a Bigger Automotive Community
Organised by Colab Events, SESSION builds on more than a decade of experience in Australia’s automotive event industry.
The event represents the next stage in the organiser’s vision to create a long-term platform connecting local enthusiasts with international brands, creators and industry leaders.
Alongside its STREET SESSION event series, Colab Events aims to continue supporting Australia’s automotive industry while creating opportunities for brands, builders and enthusiasts to connect.
With its combination of international guests, automotive showcases and lifestyle experiences, SESSION 2026 is shaping up to be a significant date on Sydney’s automotive calendar.
Event Details
Event:SESSION 2026 Automotive & Lifestyle Exhibition Date: Saturday, 28 November 2026 Time: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Venue: White Bay Cruise Terminal, 2041 James Craig Road, Rozelle, Sydney Naming Sponsor:SOFT99 Australia International Headliner:Sung Kang (DRIFTER)
Ticket Pricing
General Admission First Release: $50 + booking fees
General Admission Second Release: $55 + booking fees
General Admission Final Release: $60 + booking fees
Group Bundle: 5 tickets for $225 + applicable booking fees
Children under 12: Free with a paying adult
Tickets, vehicle registrations, media registrations and exhibitor opportunities are available through the official SESSION website at www.session.sydney.
For automotive enthusiasts looking to experience the intersection of cars, creativity, lifestyle and global car culture, SESSION 2026 is an event worth putting on the calendar.
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Inspired by one of Malaysia’s favourite desserts, the latest ASICS Sportstyle collaboration turns the GEL-KAYANO 20 into a colourful tribute to ice kacang, complete with details inspired by its iconic ingredients.
ASICS Sportstyle Malaysia and SneakerLAH are back with another collaboration rooted in Malaysian culture, and this time, they’re taking inspiration from something sweet.
Introducing the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20 ‘Ice Kacang’, a limited edition release celebrating the beloved Malaysian shaved ice dessert. Known for its colourful mix of ingredients, ice kacang becomes the inspiration for a sneaker that brings together nostalgia, local flavour and ASICS’ technical running design.
But this collaboration has a story that goes back further than you might think.
A Concept Eight Years in the Making
ASICS Sportstyle Malaysia and SneakerLAH have built a reputation for turning Malaysian cultural icons into sneakers, with previous collaborations celebrating everything from local food to national landmarks.
Interestingly, the idea for an ice kacang inspired sneaker was first added to their concept bank back in 2018, when the two were developing their very first collaboration.
Now, eight years later, that original idea has finally come to life with the SneakerLAH x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20 ‘Ice Kacang’.
It is another chapter in a partnership that continues to find inspiration in the everyday things that make Malaysian culture special.
Every Detail Has a Flavour
The GEL-KAYANO 20 ‘Ice Kacang’ takes the ingredients of the dessert and translates them into the sneaker’s design.
The predominantly white upper represents the mountain of shaved ice at the centre of the dessert, while rose pink panelling takes inspiration from the rose syrup. Yellow accents reference sweet corn, also known locally as jagung.
The details continue through the technical elements. The FLUIDFIT cage, which features a criss-cross TPU application across the upper, represents the drizzle of evaporated milk.
Underfoot, the dual GEL® technology inserts receive a green finish inspired by cendol, while the black GUIDANCE TRUSSTIC® support system references grass jelly. Red bean inspired detailing also appears around the lace eyelets and toebox.
To finish things off, an outdoor style lace lock system adds a rugged touch to the silhouette. It is also a first for the collaboration series, bringing trail inspired hardware into the mix.
The result is a sneaker that tells its story through colour, texture and carefully considered details. You might see a clean white runner at first glance, but look closer and the ingredients of a classic Malaysian dessert start to reveal themselves.
Another Malaysian Story Told Through Sneakers
For SneakerLAH founder Bryan Chin, the release continues the partnership’s mission of celebrating Malaysian identity through footwear.
The ‘Ice Kacang’ continues that approach by spotlighting a familiar local dessert, turning a nostalgic favourite into something sneakerheads can wear and collect.
It is a reminder that sneaker collaborations do not always need to look beyond their own backyard for inspiration. Sometimes, the best stories come from the culture, food and memories people grew up with.
Australian Release: Enter the ASICS Raffle
Australian sneakerheads will have a chance to get their hands on the SneakerLAH x ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20 ‘Ice Kacang’ through an ASICS Australia raffle.
The raffle is open from 20 October 2026 at 9am AEDT until 23 October 2026 at 3pm AEDT, giving fans a limited window to enter for a chance to secure this Malaysian culture inspired collaboration.
Priced at $320 AUD, the GEL-KAYANO 20 ‘Ice Kacang’ brings the flavours and colours of Malaysia’s iconic shaved ice dessert to one of ASICS’ recognisable technical running silhouettes.
Two colourways, one versatile silhouette. Mizuno Sportstyle and Sean Wotherspoon explore the balance between urban life and the outdoors with a new two part Wave MG4 LS capsule.
Sean Wotherspoon continues to bring his creative perspective to sneaker culture, this time joining forces with Mizuno Sportstyle to rework the Wave MG4 LS.
The Sean Wotherspoon x Mizuno Sportstyle Wave MG4 LS SW arrives as a two part capsule built around a simple idea: one pair of sneakers, two worlds. Through a visual campaign that moves from the busy streets of Shibuya to the Japanese mountains, the collaboration explores how footwear can transition between everyday city life and outdoor adventures without losing its style or functionality.
It is a project that reflects a more fluid approach to personal style, where sneakers are not limited to one environment or purpose.
From the Streets of Shibuya to the Mountains
The campaign begins in Shibuya, capturing the energy and contrasts of the urban environment before heading deep into the mountains.
This change of scenery is central to the collaboration. The story moves between city and nature, everyday routines and adventure, while highlighting the versatility of the Wave MG4 LS silhouette.
The two colourways help bring that concept to life. A predominantly black version represents the urban side of the story, while a predominantly blue colourway is revealed in the natural environment.
The black colourway will be exclusive to Japan, while the blue version will receive a wider global release.
Together, they represent the idea that personal style does not have to stay within defined boundaries.
Vintage Inspiration With Sean Wotherspoon’s Touch
The collaboration reworks the Wave MG4 LS through a mix of vintage inspired design and contemporary styling.
Both versions feature a combination of denim, mesh and synthetic materials, bringing different textures together across the upper. Signature SWJP details include an original check graphic and bespoke insoles, giving the collaboration its own identity.
The result balances Wotherspoon’s culture driven creative vision with Mizuno Sportstyle’s footwear development expertise, creating a sneaker designed to move between different settings and styling preferences.
Rather than treating urban and outdoor lifestyles as separate worlds, the project connects them through one versatile silhouette.
Two Colourways, Different Availability
The capsule features two versions of the Wave MG4 LS SW.
Light Blue / Off-White / Red
The globally available colourway brings a blue focused palette together with off-white and red accents. It carries the nature side of the campaign and will be available internationally.
Light Grey / Off-White / Black
The predominantly darker version delivers a more understated look and is exclusive to Japan.
The global colourway is priced at €150 / £130, while the Japan exclusive version is priced at ¥24,000 plus tax.
Australian Raffle: Your Chance to Cop
Australian sneakerheads will have a chance to get their hands on the Sean Wotherspoon x Mizuno Sportstyle Wave MG4 LS SW through a raffle hosted by Mizuno Australia.
Running from 23 to 30 October 2026, the raffle gives participants the chance to purchase the collaboration. If you have been waiting to add Sean Wotherspoon‘s latest Mizuno project to your rotation, this is one to keep an eye on.
Head to Mizuno Australia for the raffle details and your chance to purchase.
Release Details
The Sean Wotherspoon x Mizuno Sportstyle Wave MG4 LS SW is scheduled to launch globally on Friday, 30 October 2026.
With its combination of vintage inspired design, mixed materials and a concept that moves between city life and the outdoors, the collaboration offers another perspective on the evolving relationship between performance footwear and everyday style.
For Australian sneakerheads, the raffle window runs from 23 to 30 October, so make sure you check Mizuno Australia‘s official channels for further details.
One silhouette, two environments and the freedom to move between them. That is the idea behind Mizuno Sportstyle and Sean Wotherspoon‘s latest project.
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Singapore creative studio Tell Your Children taps into Godzilla’s Millennium era for a graphic heavy Fall/Winter 2026 capsule packed with neon energy, Japanese pop culture and streetwear attitude.
Godzilla has been a cultural icon for generations, and now Singapore creative studio Tell Your Children is giving the King of Monsters a fresh streetwear treatment.
The Tell Your Children x Godzilla Fall/Winter 2026 capsule collection takes inspiration from the imposing look of Godzilla’s Millennium era, bringing the legendary monster into TYC’s distinctive visual world through bold graphics, vivid neon hues and an aesthetic that connects cinematic nostalgia with contemporary street culture.
It is a meeting of Japanese pop culture and modern streetwear, built around one of cinema’s most recognisable monsters.
A Capsule Built Around the Heat Ray Pattern
The collection brings together a range of apparel and accessories, including T-shirts, a hoodie, a football jersey, a button-up shirt, a cap and socks.
At the centre of the collection is the signature all-over Heat Ray Pattern, giving the capsule a strong visual identity across multiple pieces.
The Heat Ray Pattern T-shirts are made from heavyweight 275gsm 100% cotton, finished with airbrush-splattered paint details for a raw, handcrafted look. Meanwhile, the Towering Godzilla T-shirts arrive in Dark Fog and Black, featuring graphic prints on 230gsm 100% cotton.
For those looking for another layer, the Towering Godzilla Hoodie comes in Dark Fog with a double-zip silhouette, enzyme wash and silkscreen graphics. The Heat Ray Pattern Boxy Shirt adds an all-over print and an embroidered Tell Your Children x Godzilla chest logo.
Football Jerseys Meet Godzilla
One of the standout pieces is the Millennium Football Jersey, which takes cues from classic football kits while giving them a distinctly Tell Your Children treatment.
Made from 100% polyester with a boxy fit, the jersey features embroidered crests and a heat-pressed chest logo. It brings a sportswear influence into the collection without losing the bold graphic direction that runs throughout the capsule.
The accessories continue the theme, with the Heat Ray Cap featuring distressed detailing, silkscreen graphics and embroidery. The Heat Ray Cotton Socks complete the range with a combination of printed and embroidered finishes.
Across the collection, the familiar Godzilla universe is reworked through TYC’s own creative language rather than simply reproduced.
Limited Edt 313 Hosts the Launch
The collaboration will be celebrated with a special launch activation at Limited Edt 313 Somerset in Singapore on Friday, 23 October 2026.
The invitation-only event runs from 5:30pm to 9pm, bringing together media, guests, friends and family, alongside Godzilla enthusiasts and fans of Japanese pop culture. The evening will feature special launch discounts, complimentary bites and drinks, a raffle and live DJ sets from Deejay XG and Shane 2 Sweet.
Invited guests will also receive a limited-edition Tell Your Children x Godzilla sticker gift pack, adding another collectible to the launch experience.
When and Where to Cop
The Tell Your Children x Godzilla Fall/Winter 2026 capsule collection will be available to the public on Saturday, 24 October 2026.
The collection goes live at midnight on the Limited Edt and Tell Your Children online stores, before becoming available at all physical Limited Edt stores from 11am.
For fans of Godzilla, Japanese pop culture and graphic driven streetwear, this capsule brings together all three in a collection that feels true to TYC’s creative identity.
The King of Monsters is stepping into the streetwear universe, and this time, it is all about the graphics.
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Mizuno teams up with Melbourne sneaker artist Chase Shiel for just 10 custom pairs, with four pairs up for grabs alongside signed GIBBS 26 baseball jerseys.
Freddie Gibbs’ The Last Rabbit tour of Australia is getting a serious sneaker moment, with Mizuno teaming up with Melbourne sneaker atelier Chase Shiel to create 10 custom pairs of the Wave MG4 LS.
With the Australian leg wrapping up in Perth tonight, the limited custom sneakers draw inspiration from the tour artwork, bringing together Freddie’s personal style, MizunoSportstyle and Chase Shiel’s custom work.
Freddie will keep his own pair, but four lucky fans will have the chance to win one of the remaining pairs, with each prize pack also including a GIBBS 26 Mizuno baseball jersey signed by Freddie himself.
Custom Wave MG4 LS With an Australian Twist
The project is built on the Mizuno Wave MG4 LS, the brand’s reworking of the iconic 2006 Wave Mustang 4. It is also one of Freddie’s go-to silhouettes since joining Mizuno Sportstyle as its global ambassador in May.
Each continent on the tour gets its own colourway, with the Australian edition taking direct inspiration from The Last Rabbit tour artwork.
The sneakers feature orange uppers, with mismatched Runbird logos bringing extra character to each shoe. One features a green Runbird, while the other gets a black logo traced with yellow lightning detailing.
The personal touches continue throughout the pair, with “Freddie Gibbs in The Last Rabbit” embroidered on the tongue, “Australia Tour” printed on the insole and an F.G. leather lace tag completing the custom build.
With only 10 pairs created, these are far from your usual tour merchandise.
GIBBS 26 Gets the Mizuno Baseball Treatment
The sneakers are only half of the story. Mizuno has also created a custom GIBBS 26 baseball jersey, bringing Australian colours into its Diamond Sports Apparel baseball range.
The white jersey features “AUSTRALIA” across the chest and GIBBS 26 on the back, both finished in green with a gold outline. Green and gold striped trim runs along the collar and sleeves, while an Australian flag sits on the sleeve and an embroidered green Runbird completes the chest.
For the four sneaker raffle winners, the jersey will come signed by Freddie Gibbs himself.
Mizuno has also made 30 additional GIBBS 26 jerseys available through a separate raffle. These versions are unsigned and priced at $160 each for successful entrants.
How to Enter the Mizuno Raffles
Mizuno has launched two separate raffles through its official Freddie Gibbs page, giving Australian fans two ways to get involved.
1. Custom sneaker and signed jersey raffle
Entry is free. Four winners will each receive one pair of the custom Chase Shiel Wave MG4 LS sneakers, together with a GIBBS 26 Mizuno baseball jersey signed by Freddie Gibbs.
2. GIBBS 26 baseball jersey raffle
There are 30 unsigned jerseys available, with successful entrants charged $160 each. The raffle runs through EQL, and only the 30 winners will be charged.
Both raffles are open to Australian residents only and close Thursday, 15 October 2026, at 9am AEDT.
With only 10 custom sneaker pairs produced, the project brings together music, sneaker culture and custom craftsmanship in a way that feels personal to Freddie’s Australian tour.
From the orange Wave MG4 LS to the green and gold GIBBS 26 jersey, Mizuno and Chase Shiel have created something that connects the tour directly to Australia.
And for four fans, this could be a chance to walk away with a one off piece of Freddie Gibbs and Mizuno history.
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emmi gives the ASICS GEL-STRATUS™ MC a rich Brown Storm makeover, blending archive inspired running details with an understated everyday aesthetic.
If your sneaker rotation is built around earthy neutrals, the latest collaboration between ASICS and Japanese label emmi deserves a look.
The GEL-STRATUS™ MC arrives in a rich Brown Storm colourway, with emmi bringing its understated Japanese fashion approach to the technical runner. The tonal treatment keeps things clean and versatile, making this a pair that can easily work across everyday fits.
Brown Storm From Top to Bottom
The brown treatment runs across the mesh upper, synthetic leather overlays and laces, creating a tonal foundation throughout the silhouette.
Cream detailing runs across the ASICS stripes, adding just enough contrast without taking away from the muted aesthetic. A tan GEL™ technology window underneath brings another subtle layer to the colour palette.
It is a simple approach, but one that works. The combination of brown, cream and tan gives the GEL-STRATUS™ MC a warm, understated look that fits perfectly into the current neutral sneaker rotation.
Technical Roots, Everyday Comfort
While the focus is clearly on the styling, the GEL-STRATUS™ MC still carries its running inspired construction.
Archive inspired running details are paired with rearfoot GEL™ technology, giving the silhouette its technical foundation while keeping it positioned as an everyday sneaker.
That balance between performance influence and lifestyle styling is what makes this collaboration interesting. It looks at home with a fashion focused outfit, while still carrying the DNA of ASICS running footwear.
For anyone looking to add more earthy tones to their rotation, this is an easy one to understand. Sometimes, keeping things simple is exactly what makes a sneaker stand out.
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NBA 2K27 delivers polished gameplay and a deeper basketball experience, but its growing complexity may be taking it further away from the pick up and play fun of older 2K games.
The gameplay feels polished, movement is more deliberate and the overall basketball experience rewards players who understand spacing, timing, playmaking and defensive positioning. When everything comes together, 2K27 can feel incredibly satisfying.
But there’s also a growing feeling that NBA 2K is moving further away from being an arcade style sports game and closer to being a full on basketball simulator.
And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The problem is that it can sometimes feel like you need to study the game before you’re allowed to enjoy it.
More Realism, More Complexity
The biggest change with NBA 2K27 is the direction of the gameplay.
2K has always tried to find a balance between arcade style fun and realistic basketball, but this year the series leans much harder toward the simulator side.
For experienced players and hardcore basketball fans, that can be a positive. Realistic possessions, deliberate movement and a greater emphasis on basketball IQ make the game more rewarding when you understand what you’re doing.
But for casual players, the learning curve can feel exhausting.
Older 2K games had something special about them. You could pick up the controller, understand the basics quickly and still have fun.
2K27 feels like it asks for more commitment before you can get to that same feeling.
The Badge Token System
One of the biggest frustrations is the new badge token system.
The idea of giving players more control over progression isn’t necessarily a bad one, but the execution feels overly complicated.
NBA 2K already has a lot to keep track of, including progression systems, attributes, badges, boosts and customisation options. Adding another layer through badge tokens can make building your player feel unnecessarily confusing.
At times, progression feels less like playing a basketball game and more like managing a spreadsheet just to work out whether you’re building your player correctly.
More depth isn’t always better.
Sometimes a simpler system that clearly explains what you’re earning and why would make progression much more enjoyable.
When Basketball IQ Matters
To its credit, NBA 2K27 does reward players who take the time to understand basketball.
When you start to understand those systems and everything clicks, the game becomes much more satisfying.
That deeper approach will appeal to players who want a more authentic basketball experience.
But there needs to be a balance.
The more NBA 2K adds to its systems and mechanics, the more important it becomes to make sure new and casual players don’t feel overwhelmed before they even get into the game.
There’s a lot of quality underneath the surface, and the deeper gameplay will be appreciated by experienced players who want a more authentic basketball experience.
But the franchise is becoming increasingly complicated, particularly with systems such as badge tokens.
The challenge for 2K going forward is finding the balance between depth and accessibility.
Because sometimes you just want to pick up the controller, run a few games with your mates and have fun.
NBA 2K27 is a better basketball simulator. But it may not be a better pick up and play game.
Inspired by Indonesia’s thousands of islands, the new collaboration connects pandan, culture and vintage tech design through one distinctive GEL-KAYANO™ 12.1.
This one feels a little different for me personally.
The atmos x ASICS GEL-KAYANO™ 12.1 ‘Archipelago’ marks the first ASICS collaboration created for Indonesia, bringing together ASICS Indonesia and atmos for a project that puts the country, its culture and its identity firmly in the spotlight.
What makes it even more special for me are the people behind it. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to build genuine personal relationships with people across ASICS Indonesia and atmos Japan. Some of the people from ASICS Indonesia who were involved in bringing this project together may have already moved on to new chapters, but I’m still incredibly blessed to have known them, worked with them and built those relationships on a personal level.
I remember when I was first told about this project. I was genuinely excited because I knew how significant it could be. Not just as another ASICS collaboration, but as an opportunity to put a bigger spotlight on Indonesia, its culture and the stories that make the country so unique.
That’s what makes this release hit differently for me. I’ve seen the relationships behind the scenes, watched people from different parts of the sneaker community connect over the years, and now seeing those connections come together in a project celebrating Indonesia is something I’m genuinely happy to see.
The ‘Archipelago’ brings together ASICS and atmos Indonesia for the first time, creating a sneaker inspired by Indonesia’s vast geography, diverse cultures and the shared identity connecting its more than 17,000 islands.
And for me, that makes this more than just another sneaker collaboration. It’s about the people, the relationships, the culture and the country behind the sneaker.
Inspired by Pandan
At the heart of the ‘Archipelago’ story is pandan, a familiar part of everyday life across Indonesia.
Recognised through its distinctive scent, flavour and colour, pandan is closely connected to memories of home, family gatherings and shared experiences across generations. For the collaboration, it becomes a symbol of the connection between communities throughout the Indonesian archipelago.
That inspiration comes through immediately in the sneaker, with bold pandan green complemented by subtle red accents, clean off white tones and warm neutrals inspired by Indonesia’s natural landscapes and modern urban environment.
Vintage Tech Meets Modern Performance
The GEL-KAYANO™ 12.1 brings together a vintage tech aesthetic with modern ASICS performance.
The upper takes inspiration from the GEL-KAYANO™ 12, featuring silver synthetic overlays, open mesh and TPU cutting welder details for a technical finish.
Underfoot, the sneaker uses tooling from the GEL-NIMBUS™ 17, combined with FLUIDRIDE technology, GEL cushioning in the forefoot and rearfoot, plus FlyteFoam and FF BLAST.
The result is designed to deliver responsive cushioning, stability and all day comfort while keeping the retro futuristic look that has made ASICS’ SportStyle runners such a strong part of contemporary sneaker culture.
More Than Just a Sneaker
‘Archipelago’ extends beyond the footwear itself.
The project includes curated sensory merchandise, culinary storytelling and experiential elements designed to turn familiar cultural references such as pandan into tangible experiences.
The visual campaign was also developed with award winning Indonesian filmmaker Edwin, whose creative perspective adds another layer to the project’s exploration of culture, identity and contemporary expression.
Jakarta Launch
To celebrate the collaboration, ASICS and atmos Indonesia will host an immersive pop up experience at Plaza Senayan in Jakarta from 8 to 12 October 2026.
The experience will feature sensory installations, cultural storytelling and community driven elements surrounding the ‘Archipelago’ concept.
The atmos x ASICS GEL-KAYANO™ 12.1 ‘Archipelago’ officially launches on 9 October 2026 through atmos in Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as ASICS Indonesia’s official channels.
For sneaker fans in Australia and New Zealand, the collaboration will also be available online through ASICS.
DKNY recently brought its fragrance world to life at Khanom House in Chippendale, creating a unique café experience that blended fragrance, coffee and the energy of New York with one of Sydney’s distinctive bakery destinations.
Located on Meagher Street, Khanom House is a Thai influenced bakery and café founded by baker Yeen Veerasenee. Before establishing its permanent Chippendale home, Veerasenee built a following through Sydney’s weekend markets under the name The Baking Lists. His baking combines techniques influenced by French and Australian pastry with flavours connected to his Thai background, including ingredients such as pandan, coconut and black sesame.
The move to Chippendale gave Khanom House a permanent home and a space where Veerasenee could continue developing his approach to cakes, pastries and drinks. The name Khanom House references the Thai word for sweets or desserts and reflects the connection between the bakery and Veerasenee’s heritage.
For one day on 1 October, DKNY transformed Khanom House as part of its Be Delicious Latte fragrance experience, celebrating International Coffee Day with an activation inspired by New York City’s coffee culture.
The experience centred around three fragrances from the Be Delicious Latte collection: Pistachio, Matcha and Vanilla. Each fragrance offered its own interpretation of the familiar café experience, bringing together the worlds of fragrance and coffee.
Adding to the experience, DKNY sponsored the first 100 coffees and matchas served at Khanom House from 7:30am, giving early visitors the chance to enjoy a complimentary drink while discovering the new fragrance collection. Guests could choose between coffee and matcha inspired by the collection, making the activation as much about enjoying the café experience as it was about discovering the scents.
The café takeover also featured a dedicated DKNY photobooth, giving visitors the opportunity to capture the experience and take home a visual memory of the day.
What made the activation particularly interesting was the way DKNY incorporated its fragrance collection into the existing personality of Khanom House. Rather than creating an entirely separate environment, the experience brought the world of DKNY into a familiar Sydney café setting, allowing the fragrance collection to sit naturally alongside coffee, matcha and baked treats.
The result was a playful meeting point between fragrance, food and culture. Khanom House provided the Sydney setting, while DKNY brought the inspiration of New York coffee culture to Chippendale.
With its combination of fragrance discovery, complimentary drinks and visual moments, the Be Delicious Latte experience offered a fresh way to experience the collection and demonstrated how fragrance can extend beyond the bottle to become part of a wider sensory experience.
For DKNY, the activation was a fitting celebration of the Be Delicious Latte collection, bringing together fragrance and coffee culture in a way that connected New York inspiration with the local character of Chippendale.
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