Summary:
- Thom Browne reworks the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 14 with suede and leather uppers, grosgrain lace catchers, and cross-stitch detailing on the ASICS stripes.
- The shoe comes in three colorways: grey, black, and white. Grey and black are available from March 2, 2026.
- It is sold through Thom Browne retail stores, thombrowne.com, and select global retailers.
Thom Browne and ASICS have released a co-designed version of the GEL-KAYANO 14, a running shoe that ASICS first introduced as a performance model. The collaboration keeps the original silhouette mostly intact. What changes are the materials, the finishing details, and the way the shoe reads within a wardrobe built around tailoring.
The upper varies by colorway. Grey and black versions use real suede. The white version uses smooth leather. These are not materials you typically find on a performance sneaker, and that contrast between the GEL-KAYANO 14's athletic origins and the new surface choices is the clearest signal of what the project is doing. The iconic ASICS stripes stay, but a cross-stitch detail runs across them, a reference to hand-finishing techniques associated with both brands.
Piping accents appear along the shoe in a way that references tipping, the contrast-colored edge finishing common in Thom Browne suits and outerwear. The lace catcher, a small functional element that holds the laces in place at the toe, is covered in grosgrain ribbon. On white and black versions, the grosgrain is red, white, and blue. On grey, it is tonal. According to the press materials, the color choice on the white and black versions references medals Thom Browne received as a varsity swimmer and long-distance runner.
Each pair comes with two sets of laces. One set is metal-tipped with red, white, and blue ends. The other is two-toned. The insole is updated with co-branding from both Thom Browne and ASICS, and carries the university stripe: red, white, and blue on white and black colorways, grey and white on grey.
The grey and black editions are available from March 2, 2026. The white edition does not have a confirmed release date yet.
Thom Browne started his label in 2001 with five suits, sold out of a small appointment-only shop in New York's West Village. Ready-to-wear for men followed in 2003, and for women in 2011. The brand is known for its shortened trouser hems, exaggerated suiting silhouettes, and the red, white, and blue grosgrain stripe that appears across most of its products. Browne has received the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2006, 2013, 2016, and 2025. Since 2018, the brand has been part of the Zegna Group, which holds 92% ownership and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
ASICS was founded in Japan by Kihachiro Onitsuka. The company name comes from the Latin phrase "Anima Sana In Corpo Sano", meaning "a sound mind in a sound body." The GEL-KAYANO line has been part of the ASICS catalogue for decades, originally developed for long-distance runners who need stability and cushioning over extended mileage.
The shoe is available at Thom Browne flagship stores in New York, London, Milan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul, San Francisco, Singapore, Vancouver, and Kobe, as well as through thombrowne.com and select retailers. Specific stockist details for the white edition have not been announced.