ASICS announces their first-ever collaboration with Toyoda Gosei, a leading global manufacturer of rubber and plastic for automotive components and safety systems such as airbags. The Toyoda Gosei x ASICS collaboration features the GEL-SONOMA™ 15-50 sneaker. This collaboration explores the important topic of making efforts for repurposing materials by Toyoda Gosei’s leftover airbag materials that they use for their prototyping.
Airbags in cars are carefully developed with precise standards to ensure safety and functionality. However, the prototype airbags that don’t pass the tests are discarded. This has resulted in a growing amount of waste. ASICS is committed to reducing the impact to our environment; Toyoda Gosei found a way to repurpose the discarded content onto the GEL-SONOMA™ 15-50 sneaker design.
Despite not passing car safety standards, these airbags still offer advanced durability properties. This inspired the design team to repurpose the materials for the shoe’s underlays. The underlays are also offset with the same red stitching that appears on the airbags produced by Toyoda Gosei. Its stitching is met with various numbering and letters that match the codes embroidered onto standard airbags. Meanwhile, the tongue is offset with a fluffy badge detail that’s inspired by the look of an inflated airbag.
The Toyoda Gosei x ASICS GEL-SONOMA™ 15-50 sneakers from the recycled airbag collection will retail for $200 AUD and will be available online at ASICS.com, Laced, USG, Up There and INCU from the 27th of January. Make sure you sign up to our newsletter, so you can stay up to date! For other ASICS features, click HERE and for sneaker features, click HERE.
