Asics's Gel Saga makes a welcome return for 2018. The retro runner returns from a hiatus in era correct OG colourways. Constructed in lightweight chalk white suede and nylon featuring 3M detailing around the heel and GEL-SAGA branding on the heel. With a sculpted mid sole unit packing Asics Gel technology and giving a sleek profile to the runner.
With the end of 2015 fast approaching, and the 25th Anniversary of the Gel-Lyte III coming to an end with only two collaborations remaining, November 28th was to bring one of the most anticipated releases of the year, and probably hanon's biggest release to date. A long time in the making, and a long time waiting for the day to come around, the hanon x Asics Gel-Lyte III 'Solstice' (full details here) in-store launch was sure to be a crazy one!
With hanon being the only store in the UK to be stocking the shoe, and with the majority of the other stockists worldwide having in-store only launches also, the release of the 'Solstice' had attracted people from all corners of the country. The first campers arrived on Wednesday, and by Thursday, the camp was in full swing, with the lucky first 35 campers on-track to getting the Asics and hanon branded Mag-Lite.
Thankfully, except for a very cold Friday night, the weather held out for the campers, and on Saturday morning, there was over 200 people waiting in line for the doors to open at 10am.
10am came around, doors opened, and the queue started flowing, and by 2:30pm, the hanon x Asics Gel-Lyte III 'Solstice' was SOLD OUT! Although hanon didn't have as many pairs as they would have hoped, pretty much everyone who was in the queue managed to secure a pair and that's what matters!
A big shout to everyone who made the long or short journey to hanon for the shoe, the support is always hugely appreciated!
Hope to see everyone at the next launch which will be the hanon x Le Coq Sportif R1000 'French Jersey' on Thursday 3rd December 5-7PM in-store.
Back in 2011, hanon shop released the Asics Gel Lyte III 'Wildcats', a shoe which pays homage to a local grass roots running club called 'The Wildcats', and is one of my personal favourite shoes in my collection, despite the loud colour way clashing with all the grey, black and navy I wear (boring, tell me about it). The shoe features a mustard yellow and burgundy upper, of lush suede and nubuck, with 3M tiger stripes for good measure. I don't wear these much, and to be honest I sold most of my GLIII's and other Asics when everyone was going mad for them, so this is only one of two GLIII's that I have left, but these will never leave me. I still wish I had kept some of the other pairs of the Wildcats that I had, so I could wear these a bit more, but hindsight is a wonderful thing, eh?
Anyway, I remember the release for these, well, not the whole queuing outside on Friday/Saturday release as I never went, but hanon had an event on the Thursday night prior to the release which involved good people, Japanese beer, and the chance to grab yourself a pair of the shoes before everyone else! I remember heading there with my friend Kev, it was quite quiet, mostly older guys, friends of the store and that, but still good vibes. I imagine it would be massively different if hanon put on an event like that now, who knows, maybe they'll do something in November when their take on the GLIII for its 25th Anniversary releases.
If there is, be sure to check back here for a full write up, there'll definitely be a write up of the instore release anyway!
TEASER: hanon shop x Onitsuka Tiger x Asics - "Glover Pack"
The collaborations are coming thick and fast, the last two years have felt like a bit of a collab conveyor belt in all honesty, and with countless pairs dropping each month, it gets a bit hard to keep up. Anyway, 11 months on from hanon shop's last work with Onitsuka Tiger, they're back again, but this time with a joint collaboration between themselves, Onitsuka Tiger and Asics. Just this week, the first teaser images were released, along with a teaser video, which doesn't exactly follow the usual script, and is enough to make anyone feel like they're on a weird trip. It's genius. Check them out below.
So what can we take from the video and the images?
First off, the name of the pack - "Glover Pack" - paying homage to Thomas Blake Glover, a man who's name may not mean much to you, but he hails from Aberdeen and was a bit of a phenomenon in Japan. (when the full images release, I'll focus more on the man himself, for a bit of background).
Well, there's two shoes to start with, with the Onitsuka Tiger looking like another Colorado 85, partnered up with an Asics Gel Epirus. Not exactly everyone's favourite models, but you've got to make the most of what you're given!
Stepping away from the models, and onto the colourways; the thistle and the moustache seem to play a key part in the video, so we can expect the colourways of the shoes to somehow reflect this.
Keep an eye out for the full images to be released early next week, and as always, I'll have all the details on my blog.
NOTE - Not all shots are by me, they are a collection of shots by thomaslindie, veyronstevo and s3mgw.