When it comes to sportswear collaborations, few brands manage to strike a convincing balance between function and finesse. But ASICS and A.P.C. – the former a master of high-performance athletic design, the latter a standard bearer for Parisian cool – have come surprisingly close with their new joint collection. A collection led by a particularly polished take on sneaker-of-the-moment, the Gel-Kayano 14.
The off-court hero of this head-to-toe capsule, the collaborative Kayano 14 comes in two carefully restrained colourways. One pairs white mesh and metallic silver overlays with a classic gum sole – a combination that feels at home in both a 1970s tennis club and on the front row at Paris Fashion Week. The other leans into navy, again with hits of silver, echoing the tonal balance of the accompanying apparel. These are not your average retro running shoes. The DNA remains unmistakably ASICS, with all the techy mesh panelling and segmented midsoles fans have come to love, but the styling is distinctly A.P.C.: tasteful, minima and restrained.
Originally released in 2008 and revived to great fanfare in 2021, the Gel-Kayano 14 has enjoyed a second life as the sneaker world’s most wearable Y2K runner. This version doesn’t deviate from the formula too much – which is precisely the point. Instead, it shows how the silhouette can slip effortlessly into more considered wardrobes, especially when filtered through A.P.C.’s less-is-more design language.
ASICS x A.P.C. – The wider collection
The footwear sits within a wider 50-piece collection marking ASICS' most comprehensive tennis capsule to date. Athletes including Belinda Bencic and Lorenzo Musetti will wear the range throughout the European Tennis Tour, blurring the line between professional kit and fashion-forward sportswear. On-court options include the GEL-Resolution X and Solution Speed FF 3, lightly touched with A.P.C.’s signature navy and white palette.
For the clothes, think retro tennis gear with a French accent: crisp white shorts, knitted polos, zip-through track jackets and soft blue trim. It’s not so much a throwback as a modern reframing — designed to look sharp under pressure, but comfortable enough for a post-match espresso.
The ASICS x A.P.C. collection launches 5 April online and in select stores. The Gel-Kayano 14s, in particular, are likely to vanish faster than a second serve ace.
Next up: Everything you ever wanted to know about the Gel-Kayano 14.
