ASICS Usher In the 2000s with the GEL-1090

It’s often touted that fashion trends return to the forefront approximately every 20 years. So, the ASICS GEL-1090 is right at home in 2022 as it rides in on the early Y2K aesthetic it unintentionally championed decades ago.

It’s been something of a slow burn for this particular model, which is a pretty accurate of ASICS’ typically slept-on sneakers. The GEL-1090 actually first returned in late 2019, some 15 years since its debut, and seemed to be a postscript following the ludicrous highs of the ‘Dad Shoe’ movement that closed out the last decade. However, come 2022, the GEL-1090 steps back into the limelight, and its newest palette is hard to miss.

Looking more like something from 3004 than 2004, this tech silver synthetic and mesh model is today likely closer to runways than actual runners. Complementary citrus yellow accents add warmth without sour cheesiness, and the GEL cushioning underfoot is a reminder that it won’t joke around on any impromptu jogs. Finally, the rope laces made ubiquitous by ASICS colabs of the era that followed this model’s original run return, again foreshadowing the reprisal of a popular feature back into the zeitgeist.

The ASICS GEL-1090 releases on January 15 at retailers including 43einhalb and Afew.