Awake NY x ASICS Gel Kayano Trainer 21
Retail: $180 | Release Date: December 2021
New York grit meets Japanese precision. The Awake NY x ASICS Gel-Kayano Trainer 21 is a collaboration rooted in the shared belief that greatness lives in the details — that the most enduring things are built slowly, deliberately, and with an uncompromising respect for the craft that came before. Angelo Baque's Awake NY, a brand forged in the streets and soul of New York City, finds its perfect counterpart in ASICS' decades-long pursuit of technical excellence, and together they produce something that feels as much like a work of art as it does a sneaker.
The Gel-Kayano Trainer 21's iconic silhouette — a lifestyle reinterpretation of ASICS' legendary performance running heritage, defined by its layered construction, sculpted midsole, and the signature Gel unit that made the Kayano line a byword for cushioning excellence — arrives reimagined through Awake NY's curatorial eye. Premium suede and nubuck overlays land in a palette drawn from New York's urban landscape — concrete greys, aged earth tones, and deep neutrals punctuated by moments of deliberate color that reward the closest inspection. Co-branded tongue labels, custom woven heel tabs, and Awake NY's signature detailing are present but never loud, woven into the fabric of the shoe like a signature rather than a stamp.
This is a collaboration for those who move through the city with intention — who know the history behind what they wear and choose accordingly. Awake NY and ASICS have always spoken to the same person: someone who values substance over spectacle, longevity over hype, and the quiet confidence that comes from wearing something built to last. The Awake NY x ASICS Gel-Kayano Trainer 21 is that conviction made tangible — New York and Japan, united by excellence, separated by nothing.