A collaboration taken to the extreme. That’s the concept behind ASICS’ initiative, which invited FOOTDISTRICT and a dozen European retailers to co-create a sneaker.
A vision rooted in ASICS’ participatory approach, resulting in the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 10.1 “Natural High”.
ASICS: Collaboration as Innovation
From its name alone, ASICS has always placed movement and nature at the heart of its philosophy—“Anima Sana In Corpore Sano”. But collaboration is another cornerstone of the Japanese brand, which is why it’s no surprise that today’s most compelling sneaker partnerships come from ASICS.
This collaborative spirit takes on its most ambitious form in the new ASICS Gel-Nimbus 10.1 “Natural High”. The creation process began by bringing together representatives from a dozen top ASICS retailers across Europe, including FOOTDISTRICT. These teams united with a shared goal: to design a Nimbus 10.1 with a unique story. From conceptualizing themes to selecting color palettes and materials, the participants worked hand-in-hand with ASICS designers. In the final phase, the teams voted on the best proposal, which would become an exclusive edition for the participating retailers.
The proposed concepts ranged from Fukinsei (a Japanese aesthetic principle of irregularity and asymmetry) to themes of movement and duality. The winning design was the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 10.1 “Natural High”, which explores the harmony between body and mind and the restorative benefits of moving in nature. The concept was crafted by the group that included Rubén Pulido, FOOTDISTRICT’s Business Development Director, giving us a direct connection to the creative process.
The Concept Behind the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 10.1 “Natural High”
The use of green tones and a shift from bright white to natural, raw shades directly reference the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 10.1 “Natural High’s” connection to nature. Complementing this is the duality expressed through subtle gray tones, linking the sneaker to urban asphalt. The asymmetrical design, engineered to adapt to the foot’s anatomy, reflects the meeting point between body and mind. This narrative is further emphasized by contrasting tones in different areas—lighter on the inside, darker on the outside—creating a design that inspires movement in nature.
At FOOTDISTRICT, we’ve given special attention to this release, feeling deeply connected to it from its inception. To celebrate, every pair of ASICS Gel-Nimbus 10.1 “Natural High” purchased at FOOTDISTRICT will include a custom-designed bandana as a gift, available exclusively at our store.