ASICS SportStyle "GEL-LYTE Ⅲ" 35th Anniversary Special Project: 3rd Edition Released!

ASICS SportStyle, which originated the iconic "GEL-LYTE Ⅲ," is taking part in a special project to modernize this epoch-making model with a design creator based in Japan, Shigeyuki Kunii of mita sneakers.

"GEL-LYTE Ⅲ OG GTX 'GORE-TEX' 'Black Panther'" is the third edition of this model. We asked Kunii about the design theme, his thoughts on this model, and the behind-the-scenes stories of its development.

The Creator of the "GEL-LYTE Ⅲ" was a Craftsman-like Designer

"GEL-LYTE Ⅲ" is a lightweight running shoe first introduced in 1990. This year marks its 35th anniversary, with Kunii participating in the special project. We first asked him about the overview of the shoes.

"This 'GEL-LYTE Ⅲ' is a model released 35 years ago, designed by Shigeyuki Mitsui, who has created numerous masterpieces for ASICS. Its most distinctive feature is the 'split tongue,' a detail where the tongue is divided.
 
"This innovative design was incorporated to prevent the tongue from shifting while running and to reduce pressure on the instep, where blood vessels are concentrated. This model not only revolutionizes the sole unit but also infuses innovation into the upper's structure."

Interestingly, Kunii and Mitsui share the same first name, "Shigeyuki," which led to their collaboration in 2020, the year before the Tokyo Olympics, on the "GEL-LYTE Ⅲ" featuring a vibrant Hinomaru (the Japanese flag) on the toe box. Kunii shared his thoughts on Mitsui, someone he respects greatly:
 
"When Mitsui was actively designing, he received feedback from athletes and designed to meet their functional needs.

"It was a time when designs were crafted freehand, and colors were decided by mixing paints to achieve the desired hue, unlike today, where AI handles design and Pantone coordinates colors. Everything was crafted analog-style.

"He was not a designer who worked in separate sections as we see today but was truly a craftsman who created everything by himself. Talking to him is a great learning experience. One of the most memorable things I learned from Mitsui was that he always incorporated playful elements as a designer to evoke excitement in athletes and those who wore the shoes, which I found impressive.
 
"As shoemakers selling shoes, we also feel that the fit during try-ons varies from person to person. The fitting for athletes is genuinely refined. To receive feedback from them and reflect it in the product is truly an incredible feat."
 
You can sense the respect Kunii holds for Mitsui in every word he says. The creator of the "GEL-LYTE Ⅲ" is indeed not just anybody.

Fashion Is a History of "Change," While Sports Are a History of "Evolution"

This special project, which includes the "GEL-YETI HI," is actually the grand finale. We asked about what led him to participate in the project.
 
"'ASICS' is originally recognized worldwide, and it is well-known that the brand led the current Y2K trend. The more the brand is focused on, the more it tends to concentrate as 'this model represents this brand.'
 
"For better or worse, people who wear 'ASICS' in fashion constantly seek new things, and it's a shame that the brand's masterpieces from the past become buried. Fashion is always about 'change,' but sports brands are always about 'evolution.' It was with this sense of timing that I thought it was the right moment to provide the generation that has never had the opportunity to touch the archives through this evolutionary process."

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a global shift toward not producing unnecessary items. Kunii's strong desire to also propose models that laid the foundation for popular models led him to participate in this project.
 
Kunii continues about the reason for choosing the "GEL-LYTE Ⅲ" for this collaboration model.
 
"The series of actions involved updating and reconstructing the 'GEL-LYTE Ⅲ' collaboration we previously did as 'mita sneakers.' The base model is the one we collaborated with Mitsui on in 2020, but we have evolved the fitting further.
 
"We want people to experience the functions by actually wearing them, so we place importance on the unseen parts. As I previously mentioned, I think sports brands are always about 'evolution,' so we've made sure to tune that part."
 
Long-time users of the "GEL-LYTE Ⅲ" rate it highly, and it has even been tagged with "#Makio" on social media because the feel and comfort are on another level.

Hoping to Serve as a "Teaser" for the 35th Anniversary

The "GEL-LYTE Ⅲ OG GTX 'GORE-TEX' 'Black Panther'" model, as the name suggests, features "GORE-TEX" as its standout element. Kunii, who talks about "evolution" in sports, sees this functional evolution as only natural.
We also asked about the reason for choosing the "Black Panther" theme.

"The '3' in 'GEL-LYTE Ⅲ' appears as the Roman numeral 'Ⅲ.' It looks like the claw marks of a feline, so we chose the Black Panther. The leopard pattern is also placed in a very subtle and restrained manner with the same color.
 
Also, since the area with the Black Panther pattern is small, a color tab that emphasizes it has been placed on the heel."

Finally, when we asked what role they hoped this creation would play, Kunii responded:
 
"This year marks the 35th anniversary of the 'GEL-LYTE Ⅲ,' so we want it to serve as a teaser. For people who have never heard of or worn the 'GEL-LYTE Ⅲ,' saying, 'This is the 35th anniversary...' means nothing to them.
 
"Currently, only certain collaboration models of the 'GEL-LYTE' series are being released. While they are recognized by sneaker enthusiasts, we also want people who are not familiar to learn more through this model. If you don't understand the basics, you can't apply them, so we'd like them to establish the basics with this creation, which follows the original while being updated for a lifestyle approach."
 
To celebrate the 35th anniversary, "mita sneakers" is planning a special model as well. Let's stay tuned for more updates.