AFEW's ASICS GEL-LYTE III OG "B.O.I." Collaboration Is Full of Surprises
Hint: it includes tear-away features.
Of all the sneaker store-meet-shoe giant collaborations, AFEW is up there with the best of them. Following on from its AFEW x ASICS GEL-LYTE™ III “Beauty of Imperfection CP 1/1,” which raised almost $15,000 USD for charity, the duo has come together once again for another take on the GEL-LYTE III, dubbed “B.O.I.”
Informed by the previous collaboration, this new iteration comes in “Polar Shade/Seagrass” and is also inspired by the Wabi-Sabi philosophy, which is the Japanese philosophical belief regarding seeking beauty within imperfection. As a result, the sneaker features wear-away Tiger stripes on the upper, which when worn will reveal a different color underneath.
Made from premium suede, AFEW has left no stone unturned when it comes to the finishing details. The Tiger stripe is stitched on the inside to replicate the exterior, insoles are made from cork and feature dual branding alongside the Japanese character for “Wabi-Sabi.” This is also found on the heel, which appears alongside AFEW and GEL-LYTE III embossing in white, sitting on top of a purple suede heel with white zig-zag topstitching.
Further AFEW and ASICS branding appears on the “Seagrass”-hued denim patch on the heels, while contrasting this is the GEL-equipped sole unit that’s decked in creamy-brown tones and is rounded out with a gum outsole.
While this pair will be more widely available than the 1-of-1 pair before, the collaboration is limited and is exclusive to AFEW. It’s set to drop on February 26 online and in-store and is purchasable via an online raffle. Head over to AFEW’s website to find out more about the sneaker, which costs €169.95 EUR (approximately $193 USD).
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