The Japanese brand ASICS called on Sebastien Abdelhamid for its collaboration with the Naruto Shippuden franchise. The TV host, passionate about sneakers and manga specialist, has reinterpreted the iconic silhouettes of the GEL-1130 and GEL-Lyte 3 inspired by the story that links the brothers Itachi and Sasuke of the Uchiha clan, from the universe of Naruto Shippuden.
The GEL-1130 symbolizes the rivalry between the 2 brothers. It’s declined in 2 colorways, one for Itachi and the other for Sasuke, and the special GEL-Lyte 3 pays tribute to Kakashi Sensei.
Each pair has an aesthetic and details reminiscent of the outfits of characters imagined by Masashi Kishimoto. They feature a « tear-away » upper that reveals a completely different underlayer and gives the model a different look. To affirm the collaboration, these exclusive editions feature co-branded insoles.
The GEL-1130 Itachi features a black/red/gray color palette. It features a black upper with gray overlays and red accents. Once the first layer is removed, the black upper is embellished with red patterns corresponding to the logo of the Akatsuki, the criminal organization to which Itachi belongs. There is also the “Shu” kanji of Itachi’s ring on the heel, the plate of his headband with the barred symbol of Konoha as a dubrae and the Mangekyou Sharingan applied on the tongue. The whole set is supported by a powerful black and red midsole with GEL cushioning and a Trussic support system for comfort and lightness. A black outsole completes the look.
The GEL-1130 Sasuke appears in a combination of light grey mesh and purple overlays with purple accents. Once the first layer is cut out, the shoe features a bold black and purple snakeskin pattern that resembles the snake that Sasuke summons in battle. To affirm the homage to Sasuke, the heel is adorned with the emblem of the Uchiha clan, the tongue features his Rinnegan and an additional set of rope laces imitating his « belt » that holds his sword is offered. Just like the Itachi version, the pair benefits from metallic dubraes reminding the foreheadband of the Konoha brothers. A cream midsole associated with a grey and purple outsole brings the final touch.
The GEL-Lyte 3 Kakashi honors the Sensei of Team 7 composed of Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. This special version takes the style of Kakashi Hatake, more commonly known as the Copycat Ninja by his opponents. It consists of a light grey upper evoking the hair color of the ninja, completed with matching side overlays. The toe and heel overlays appear navy blue, similar to Kakashi’s Jounin outfit. The underlayer is adorned with lightning patterns referring to the character’s « Chidori » technique, the tongue is adorned with his Sharingan and the side mudguard features the embroidered red symbol of the Uzumaki clan. To complete the design, the symbol of the Konoha village stands out on the metal lace dubrae, just like on the 2 previous pairs, but also it’s affixed on the heel. The whole is based on a white midsole and a black outsole.
The Asics x Naruto Shippuden collection by Sébastien Abdelhamid is released exclusively in COURIR stores. These limited edition pairs are also available online at courir.com for 130€ for each GEL-1130 and 160€ for the GEL-Lyte 3. Don’t sleep !
