Two brands steeped in history and tradition that hail from two sides of the globe. ASICS and Vivienne Westwood resume their revered collaboration this season, continuing the same shared values on quality, craftsmanship and innovation that lies at the heart of their previous collection.

For their latest efforts, the British fashion house reinterprets three of ASICS running silhouettes with artwork inspired by the French artist François Boucher. His idyllic artwork – in our opinion anyway – complements ASICS timeless designs to provide a set of shoes that deserve to be marvelled at rather than placed on your feet. Keep on reading and we’ll dissect the styles one by one.

HyperGEL-LYTE

• 

• 

We’ll start off with the arguably the loudest of the bunch, the HyperGEL-LYTE. Sporting a similar design to that first seen in Vivienne Westwood’s 1990 ‘Portrait’ collection, Boucher’s Rococo-style ‘Daphnis & Chloe’ painting from 1743 adorns the entirety of the runner’s textile and leather uppers.

If you’re unfamiliar with this particular ASICS model, we’ll explain its technology and benefits. It’s bolstered by the brand’s all-new HYPERGEL tech in its midsole; this hybrid material enhances the cushioning of the traditional GEL midsoles for even more comfort by adding the rebound response qualities of TPU beads into the mix. 

GEL-Saga

• 

• 

Next up is the ASICS GEL-Saga – a model that first touched down in 1990 for the rapidly-increasing Japanese and US markets. A pre-cursor to the brand’s Kayano line, the GEL-Saga was a much simpler running silhouette, introduced before upper technologies were really coming into play.

Definitely the most minimalistic of the three pairs, this GEL-Saga is built from a blend of luxe white leather with textile underlays – accented with VW’s iconic Orb branding to the heel. If you lift your foot you’ll find the Renaissance-inspired theme continued below the translucent rubber outsole, which also stops you from slipping thanks to its glue-like grip.

GEL-DS Trainer

• 

• 

Last but by no means least, it’s the ASICS GEL-DS Trainer. Lifting its colourway straight from Vivienne Westwood’s synonymous Orb emblem, the 1995 trainer boasts a bold palette of black, blue, grey across its multi-textured uppers, with further accents of pink and yellow bursting throughout.

As well as featuring GEL cushioning in the midsole, the GEL-DS Trainer also sports ASICS’ DUOSOLE tech to provide energy-return, lightweight flexibility and tailored traction in equal measure. 

All three of the collaborative models feature the same decorative co-branded insoles, painted with vivid imagery of Boucher’s iconic 18th Century oil-paintings, while Vivienne Westwood’s ‘CHAOS’ branding swings from the sidewalls.

[ratings]

Select sizes and styles of the ASICS x Vivienne Westwood footwear collection are still available online, be quick before it’s too late!