Angelo Baque has been pushing out “cool” for more than a decade, having worked at Supreme for a decade. Since 2012, the Queens-native has been doing so with his own imprint, Awake NY, with the last few years seeing him join forces with ASICS on a number of widely-celebrated projects. Before 2022 closes, Baque unveiled the GEL-NYC, his brand’s first original silhouette with the Japanese institution.
While not designed from scratch, the ASICS GEL-NYC sees a number of different models from the past come together in a way unlike ever before. In an interview with Sneaker Freaker, Baque shared that his ode to New York City referenced the GEL-Nimbus 3, GEL-MC Plus V, and GEL-Cumulus 16, mixing new technology with retro design cues.
“What inspired the first GEL-Kayano 5 360 also inspired the GEL-NYC,” Baque told Sneaker Freaker. “At the end of the day, for me, it’s like, how do I envision a kid from Jackson Heights, Queens, the South Bronx – or even the outskirts of Paris – wearing ASICS? We went back to the essence of where we started with ASICS in 2019. No pun intended, but it was a full 360. It’s essentially a hard-ass shoe that you can wear on the day-to-day. It looks good with a suit and a tracksuit. It’ll look good on a date with your lady, you know what I mean? This is literally going back to the essence of where I started with ASICS.”
Debut color combinations of the new sneaker–which are set to drop at Awake NY’s flagship store in NYC come January 2023–couple teal and pink and purple and gold accents atop grey suede and mesh base layers. “AWAKE” branding is stamped onto the lateral heel, although it’s uncertain whether or not Baque and team will have exclusivity of the GEL-NYC. Regardless, they have another one in their roster of compelling collaborations.
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