Juntae Kim and ASICS turn the sneaker into a dress shoe

Juntae Kim x ASICS: the Seoul-based fashion label of designer Juntae Kim has signed on for its very first collaboration with ASICS. The result of Juntae Kim x ASICS is the GEL-KINETIC FR, a shoe that sits right between a dress shoe and a sneaker.

The label calls the idea behind it the 'Dressneaker'. The proportions borrow heavily from a classic men's dress shoe, while the sole and construction come from the world of performance sneakers.

So this isn't an existing runner getting a new coat of paint, but a silhouette designed from the ground up around that tension.

Juntae Kim is known for collections where romantic tailoring meets a rawer punk edge. Flowers are the label's signature, and they show up on this shoe as well.

The collaboration was revealed in June, alongside the designer's SS27 collection.

Flowers that wilt

The standout detail is the detachable hardware. You can attach, move or completely remove the metal flower pieces.

With the flowers on, the GEL-KINETIC FR becomes a decorative statement; without them, it shifts towards a formal shoe. So you decide how far you take the look.

The floral motif plays a role in the rest of the design too. The theme revolves around flowers drying and wilting, translated into petals and stamens.

A gradient fade runs across the upper, the forefoot and the ASICS stripes, making that wilting effect visible.

The upper is a deliberate mix of synthetic material and genuine leather, with leather panels that reinforce the dressy look.

Underneath sits a sporty sole that gives the model its sneaker DNA. How that sole wears in practice remains to be seen: ASICS hasn't shared technical details on the cushioning.

Black, Navy and Red

The GEL-KINETIC FR arrives in three tonal colorways: Black, Navy and Red. Each version is built around one main colour, which lets the gradient fade and the floral hardware do most of the work.

Black is the most understated option and stays closest to a classic dress shoe. Navy remains calm but adds a touch more colour. Red is the outspoken choice of the three.

The model fits into a series in which ASICS increasingly uses the GEL-KINETIC family as a canvas for fashion designers, from Cecilie Bahnsen to Nanushka.

Juntae Kim adds a Korean voice that gives the model a clear direction of its own.

That makes Juntae Kim x ASICS a striking step for a brand best known for runners. A dress shoe on a sneaker base, with flowers you can move around yourself: this is a model you won't easily mistake for anything else.

Release and price

The Juntae Kim x ASICS GEL-KINETIC FR is scheduled for 20 November 2026. Whether that date also applies to Europe has not been confirmed yet. You'll find it on our release calendar as soon as more is known.

A European retail price and the list of stockists have not been announced either. Check the ASICS website as the release gets closer. You'll find more of the brand's models on our ASICS page.