JUNTAE KIM and ASICS are trying something outside the brand’s usual collaboration lane with the GEL-KINETIC FR. It is a new model built around dress-shoe proportions, then grounded with the cushioning and structure of a modern sneaker. JUNTAE KIM calls it a “Dressneaker,” a name that gets the basic idea across without much explanation.

The metal flower pieces are what give the shoe its range. Borrowed from the label’s signature floral motif, the hardware can be attached, moved around, or removed altogether. Worn with the full setup, the GEL-KINETIC FR feels more decorative and fashion-led. Take the pieces off and the shape becomes quieter, closer to a traditional formal shoe.

That change in character is intentional. JUNTAE KIM has long worked with romantic tailoring and harder punk references in the same collection, and this design brings both sides together without locking the wearer into either one. The shoe can be styled up or stripped back depending on the outfit.

ASICS does not often hand collaborators a blank page. Most projects begin with an existing runner, followed by changes to the materials, colors, and branding. The GEL-KINETIC FR appears to have been developed as an original silhouette, which gives JUNTAE KIM more influence over the shoe than a standard makeover would.

The JUNTAE KIM x ASICS GEL-KINETIC FR is expected to arrive in the second half of the year. A release date, price, and retailer list have not been announced.

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