ASICS has come together with Danish design brand HAY to reimagine the Skyhand OG model.
Unveiled during this year’s 3daysofdesign festival, the collaboration takes updates the archival shoe (which dates back to 1994), and re-envisions it in a palette devised by HAY.
Led by Mette Hay (who co-founded the lifestyle brand alongside her husband Rolf), the new color options arrive in blue, green, and pink. On each model, details are highlighted in a contrasting yet complementing colour.
“When working on the colour scale, we quickly came up with the idea that it should reference already existing HAY designs,” Mette told Hypebeast. “This is when the Outline Pyjama Collection by Tilde Bjerregaard came into the picture. Its soft hues immediately translated well to the Skyhand OG – which isn’t a given, as colours don’t necessarily ‘work’ the same way when applied to different materials and textures.”
For Mette, the collaborative project brings together the similarities between her brand and the Japanese sneaker stalwart. She herself is a lifelong ASICS fan - “I’ve personally always loved wearing ASICS shoes, especially for running, as well,” she says.
It expands on HAY's core vision for making design more accessible to a wider audience – and is the brand's first collaboration with a sneaker brand.
In terms of the details, the HAY Skyhand OG has been redeveloped to include FlyteFoam in the forefoot, and EVA foam in the heel for added cushioning. The upper is crafted from a suede and leather mix and features both brand's logos on the tongue and heel.
"I like that a sneaker is an item that can span and speak to multiple generations: My mother, myself and my son and daughter can wear the same shoe."
When it came to selecting the model for the collaboration, Mette says it was ASICS who suggested the Skyhand OG. "We liked the fact that it was an old classic we’d be giving new life to, so we were on board straight away," she says. "When collaborating, it matters that both brands bring something new to the table, to succeed in creating an exciting product."
"I personally find the sneakers industry extremely exciting, and am fascinated by its speed and by how innovation happens constantly," she continues. "I also like that a sneaker is an item that can span and speak to multiple generations: My mother, myself and my son and daughter can wear the same shoe."
The ASICS x HAY collaboration will be available at selected HAY stores and retailers in Europe from 28 June and in APAC from 1 August, with prices starting at €120 for the sneakers, €45 for the Weekend Bag and €22 for the Everyday Socks.
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