ASICS SportStyle is once again looking to its archive for inspiration, this time revisiting the early-2000s running DNA of the GEL-FRANTIC™ series to create the new GEL-KINETIC™ FR.
Rather than simply recreating an archival favourite, the GEL-KINETIC™ FR pulls together design details from multiple generations of the GEL-FRANTIC™ franchise and reshapes them for a contemporary audience. At the centre of the design is a streamlined feather-lasting silhouette, which wraps closer to the foot to create a cleaner, more fluid profile. A reworked synthetic quarter panel also gives the upper a more directional look, while retaining the layered construction and technical character associated with ASICS’ running archive.
The “FR” in the name is a direct nod to the GEL-FRANTIC™, but this isn’t simply a retro remake. ASICS has used elements from across the franchise to create something that feels familiar to longtime ASICS fans while still fitting naturally into the brand’s current SportStyle offering.
Underfoot, the GEL-KINETIC™ FR takes inspiration from the GEL-KINETIC™ 2.0, bringing a more considered cushioning setup to the silhouette. Scutoid GEL™ technology is positioned beneath the heel, while the forefoot features an integrated inner construction enabled by the feather-lasting design. A thicker sock-lining construction adds cushioning through the forefoot and is designed to contribute to a smoother transition through each step.
The cushioning story is also informed by research from the ASICS Institute of Sport Science into walking motion and load patterns, giving the GEL-KINETIC™ FR a technical foundation beneath its everyday styling. The bottom unit also references the original GEL-FRANTIC™ tooling, further connecting the new silhouette to its archival roots.
For ASICS SportStyle, the GEL-KINETIC™ FR is another example of how its archive can be used as more than a source of nostalgia. By taking familiar performance details and reworking them through a contemporary silhouette, the brand continues to find new ways to reinterpret its running history for everyday wear.
The GEL-KINETIC™ FR is set to arrive online and at select retailers, with the official release date and pricing yet to be announced.
The ASICS GEL-KINETIC™ FR is now available at select retailers and from ASICS.com.au, with a retail price of $240.
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