GmbH's ASICS GEL-CHAPPAL Is More Than a Smart-Casual Sneaker
The vegan leather criss-cross style is paired with a GEL sole unit and draws inspiration from traditional sandals of Pakistan.
Serhat Isik and Benjamin Alexander Huseby’s progressive Berlin-based label GmbH is continuing its partnership with ASICS with the release of its latest Fall/Winter 2020 runway shoe: the GEL-CHAPPAL.
Introducing an entirely new silhouette, the GmbH x ASICS GEL-CHAPPAL combines the footwear giant’s signature technical GEL sole unit with a vegan leather upper that transcends smart-casual forms. In an aim to juxtapose history and modernity, GmbH combines a criss-cross strap upper that’s inspired by a Peshwari chappal (a traditional sandal from Pakistan) and couples this with house design cues and the aforementioned GEL sole unit.
The result is not a formal shoe, nor a sneaker. While the color palette of black or burgundy, coupled with its sophisticated vegan leather strap upper, may echo the likes of a moccasin or a driving shoe, elements such as the metal branding on the mid-panels, its almond toe and muted branding on the tongue lean towards more of a sneaker.
Elsewhere around the GEL-CHAPPAL, you’ll find a rear heel clip finished with GEL branding, as well as dual-branded vegan leather insoles.
The GmbH x ASICS GEL-CHAPPAL can be seen above and is releasing exclusively on GmbH’s website later on today at 1 p.m. CET (12 p.m. GMT/7 a.m. ET). A wider release will come on December 10 at selected retailers worldwide.
In other news, Our Legacy has dropped its Mono Runner in silver.
