VANDYTHEPINK Serves Up ASICS' Gel-Kayano 12.1 in "Chocolate" & "Vanilla"
Arriving August 8, the ice cream-inspired colorways feature soft brown and milky hues accented with yellow and pink for a sweet touch.
Summary
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VANDYTHEPINK and ASICS are launching the ice cream-inspired Gel-Kayano 12.1 in “Chocolate” and “Vanilla” on August 8.
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The sneakers feature custom branding, continuing the streetwear label’s history of popular food-themed footwear collaborations.
Virginia-born streetwear label VANDYTHEPINK has unveiled a second collaboration with ASICS, following up on its 2025 ASICS Gel-Nimbus 10.1 “Banana Split” and “Strawberry” variants with a running theme. The ice cream-inspired Gel-Kayano 12.1 is a two-pack release coming this August, arriving in “Chocolate” and “Vanilla.”
“Chocolate” naturally carries a brown mesh upper, decorated with ASICS’ classic overlays in silver and light yellow accents that extend to the midsole; meanwhile, “Vanilla” opts for a more expressive palette. With white mesh uppers and a continuation of silver overlays, the “Vanilla” colorway also incorporates small details in baby pink, mint green, and light yellow – reminiscent of a Neapolitan scoop of ice cream. However, the design goes beyond color, offering several Easter eggs for VANDYTHEPINK fans. The eyelets of the collaborative model feature subtle “VANDYTHEPINK” embossing, while the tongue is crowned with a Korean “VANDYTHEPINK” wordmark in place of the usual ASICS insignia. Finally, dual flower motif tags are tucked beneath a lateral overlay at the heel, nodding to the brand’s signature emblem.
Beyond VANDYTHEPINK’s 2025 collaboration with ASICS and ATMOS, the brand has released other food-inspired collabs with other footwear purveyors. In 2024, it was the Salomon Speedcross 3, rendered in “Burger”-inspired colors: brown at the tongue, yellow at the toe box, red at the outsoles, and green aglets on the laces. Similarly, in 2023, VANDYTHEPINK collaborated with Clarks Originals for a burger-inspired Wallabee, complete with sesame seed embroidery at the toe box and vegetable-shaped tags replacing the classic leather Clarks tag.
The VANDYTHEPINK x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1 “Chocolate” and “Vanilla” are set for release on August 8 at select retailers and the VANDYTHEPINK website.
