ASICS SportStyle is bringing two immersive pop-up events to Sydney and Melbourne
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ASICS
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
Expect movement, music and matcha-making.
Somewhere between the Lycra-clad days of the ’80s and the velour tracksuit boom of the early 2000s, the relationship between fashion and sport evolved. Technical fabrics started appearing alongside tailoring. Sneakers – once reserved only for workouts – became an all-occasions staple. Coined ‘athleisurewear’, the style was about rhythm: how the pieces moved with you through the day.
A firm believer in the feel-good power of all kinds of movement (Pilates, marathon running, slow walks between weekend errands), ASICS founder Kihachiro Onitsuka understood this balance better than most. Named after the Latin phrase ‘anima sana in corpore sana’, meaning ‘a sound mind in a sound body’, the Japanese brand traverses the world of fashion and high-performance sportswear, offering pieces designed to take you from gym workouts to gallery openings.
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Now, ASICS is bringing its iconic athleisurewear line, SportStyle, to two new immersive experiences across Sydney and Melbourne. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the iconic GEL-QUANTUM sneakers, the events will fuse music, movement and matcha-making across two idyllic inner-city weekends.
“Australia has always been a key market for ASICS, home to a community that deeply values both performance and lifestyle,” says Mark Brunton, Managing Director of ASICS Oceania. “With the launch of our first SportStyle pop-ups in Sydney and Melbourne, we’re not only celebrating our GEL-QUANTUM legacy but also signalling our commitment to pushing the boundaries of how people engage with sneakers, fashion and culture.”
In addition to the return of some of ASICS’ most coveted sneakers, the events will also see the unveiling of a new limited-edition collaboration with Melbourne label Jungles Jungles. Joining the ranks of designers like Cecilie Bahnsen, Kiko Kostadinov and Shushu/Tong, Jungles Jungles will be releasing an exclusive drop of GEL-CUMULUS 16 sneakers, available in very limited quantities.
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For Sydneysiders, ASICS’ inaugural SportStyle event will take place from August 14 to 16 at curated retail space, Chinatown Country Club. To begin, guests are invited to reset with Mellow Hum, a morning mindfulness and sound bath session, followed by Whisk, Sip and Bite, a sensory-guided, matcha-making workshop. In the evening, the vibe switches with Sound and Sneakers, a live DJ set complete with signature cocktails.
In Melbourne, the exclusive CBD pop-up taps into the city’s café culture and creative spirit. Held at No Vacancy Gallery from August 20 to 23, the experience kicks off with Sound and Energise Morning Sessions, a live DJ set, and complimentary coffee for the first 30 guests plus anyone wearing ASICS sneakers. After that, guests can enjoy a calming Japanese Kokedama session. Finally, the evenings will wrap up with another round of Sound and Sneakers DJ sets – this time, paired with a sake tasting.
Fusing the worlds of fashion, sports and wellness, these community-centred events are an invitation to take pause. From late-night dancefloor catharsis to morning meditations, ASICS SportStyle encourages you to slow down, let go and enjoy a rare moment of reflection amid the chaos of city living.
Sign up for the ASICS Sportsyle Melbourne event here, or register for the Sydney weekend here.
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