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Triple Red Defines the ASICS Gel Kayano x Packer
Not may people know who Michael Packer is nor why his name is on this latest colorway of the Asics Gel Kayano trainer. Sneaker fans, however, know that the Packer name is synonymous with sneaker heritage, a three-generation love affair with shoes that dates back to 1907 when Packer Shoes first opened it doors in Yonkers, New York. Mike Packer was born into the sneaker business and has had his finger on the pulse of the industry since as far back as he can remember. In 2014, Packer started collaborating with brands adidas, New Balance, Reebok ASICS and Fila, drawing upon his informed taste and historical knowledge to create fresh color and material combinations. He did this to great acclaim, giving Packer a spot in the Hypebeast 100 for 2014.
This year, Packer lends his touch to another classic trainer, the ASICS Gel Kayano, a shoe that entered the market back in 1993 as the flagship shoe for the “serious high-mileage runner.” It was named after its designer, Toshikazu Kayano, who sketched out the original design for the shoe on a napkin during a team dinner. In its 18th iteration, the current ASICS Gel Kayano is among those models that fly under the radar, but Packer’s influence on the shoe just might give this sneaker the attention it deserves.
Decked out in “Triple Red,” the ASICS Gel Kayano x Packer is as red as you can get, a definite head-turner, though not everyone will have the guts or the cred to pull this off. The shoe features a lush suede build, with embossed tonal branding and synthetic caging. Very street in look, yet sport in function, though we think that abusing this on the track oval isn’t something we’d like to do to this collector’s piece.
The release of the ASICS Gel Kayano x Packer marks the 12th installment of sneaker retailer SneakPeek’s Unlocked events for the year. The store has more sneaker drops planned over the next few months so do stay tuned for more shoe launches on this site.
streetsmnl.com 