Explore ASICS Collections
ASICS: from technical running to SportStyle
The history of ASICS is deeply linked to sport and performance footwear, but an important part of the contemporary catalog stems from the reinterpretation of silhouettes originally developed for running.
Mesh, layered paneling, technical structures, and cushioning systems created for a specific function have, over time, also become recognizable elements of lifestyle design. It is from this relationship between sports archives and contemporary usage that many of the ASICS sneakers found today in ResellZone’s Sneakers selection take shape.
GEL-KAYANO, GEL-NYC, GEL-1130, and GT-2160 belong to the same technical universe, but they tell the stories of different periods and approaches in the brand's history.
ASICS GEL-KAYANO and the evolution of the line
The ASICS GEL-KAYANO family represents one of the most recognizable benchmarks in the ASICS running archive.
In the contemporary SportStyle catalog, models like the GEL-KAYANO 14 recover the technical aesthetic of the late 2000s through a construction characterized by mesh, numerous layered panels, and GEL technology underfoot. ASICS directly connects the GEL-KAYANO 14 to the original 2008 structure, keeping visible many of the elements that defined the running sneaker of that era.
The family, therefore, does not identify a single silhouette, but a line that has evolved over numerous generations, some of which have returned to the lifestyle scene through reissues, reinterpretations, and collaborations.
ASICS GEL-NYC: archival elements in a contemporary silhouette
The ASICS GEL-NYC follows a different logic compared to the reissue of a single historical model.
The upper recalls the GEL-NIMBUS 3 from the early 2000s and integrates details from the GEL-MC PLUS V, while the underfoot structure uses references to the GEL-CUMULUS 16. ASICS therefore describes the GEL-NYC as an encounter between heritage elements and solutions belonging to different phases of its technical evolution.
The result is a retro-running looking sneaker that does not simply reproduce a model from the past, but intentionally combines components sourced from multiple parts of the archive.
This construction makes the GEL-NYC particularly suitable for colorways based on mesh, metallic tones, grays, creams, and contrasting paneling, as well as collaborations that modify the materials while keeping the original structure recognizable.
GEL-1130: the return of 2008 running
The ASICS GEL-1130 derives from a 2008 running shoe and pays homage to the ninth version of the GEL-1000 series.
The structure retains elements typical of technical trainers from that period, such as a mesh base, synthetic overlays, and GEL technology in the heel area. ASICS also relates the construction of the GEL-1130 to that of the GEL-KAYANO 14, highlighting the bond between the two families while keeping their identities distinct.
Compared to more complex models, the GEL-1130 maintains a relatively linear approach, but clearly preserves the technical language of late 2000s running sneakers.
ASICS GT-2160 and early 2010s design
The ASICS GT-2160 instead carries the cluster into a slightly later phase.
The silhouette recalls the GT-2000 series from the early 2010s and maintains characteristic elements such as the wavy lines on the forefoot, the segmented structure of the midsole, and inserts with GEL technology.
It is, therefore, a sneaker linked to the same technical heritage as the GEL-KAYANO, GEL-NYC, and GEL-1130, but with proportions and details traceable to a different period of ASICS running design.
Placing these models side-by-side within the same category allows one to read the evolution of the brand's style with greater clarity: from the late 2000s to the shapes of the early 2010s, up to contemporary silhouettes built through references sourced from multiple generations.
ASICS collaborations and silhouette reinterpretations
In recent years, ASICS SportStyle silhouettes have also become a base for collaborations developed with designers, retailers, and international creative projects.
GEL-KAYANO, GEL-NYC, GEL-1130, and GT-2160 can appear in the catalog both through general release colorways and through releases that modify materials, palettes, and details.
However, the collaboration does not replace the identity of the silhouette: a GEL-KAYANO maintains different proportions and construction compared to a GEL-NYC, just as the GT-2160 and GEL-1130 remain recognizable even when they are reinterpreted through special materials or colors.
It is precisely this continuity between original model and reinterpretation that makes it useful to start with the sneaker family even before the individual colorway.
How to choose between GEL-KAYANO, GEL-NYC, GEL-1130, and GT-2160
The four main families in the ASICS selection offer different approaches.
The GEL-KAYANO is recommended for those looking for a heavily layered construction that is closely tied to the technical archive of the line. The GEL-NYC, on the other hand, uses a more hybrid structure, built by putting together elements from different ASICS models.
The GEL-1130 clearly preserves the language of 2008 running shoes, while the GT-2160 looks to the early 2010s through more tapered shapes and a different midsole construction.
Colorways, materials, collaborations, and size availability may change from one release to another. The individual product page therefore remains the reference point for verifying the features of the available version.