ISSEY MIYAKE and ASICS have created the sneaker of the year HYPER TAPING™ is a new sneaker inspired by sports taping

For the first time, ASICS and ISSEY MIYAKE join forces in an exclusive collaboration: HYPER TAPING™, presented for the first time during Paris Fashion Week at the IM MEN SS26 show. The sneakers will be available from January 22 on asics.com, at selected ASICS stores, and at chosen retailers worldwide.

Quality, innovation, and product development are the core values of this collaboration. Attention to craftsmanship, manufacturing, and technology defines the savoir-faire of the two Japanese brands. The philosophy “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body” (Anima Sana In Corpore Sano) has guided ASICS’ success and resonates with the reflection on the body, an integral part of ISSEY MIYAKE’s creative poetics.

HYPER TAPING™ originates from the reinterpretation of the iconic ASICS Stripes, to which MDS adds the concept of taping, a practice that stabilizes the body and supports movement. The sneaker embodies this principle in a new design. The creative teams studied the human foot shape and developed a model designed for everyday use, in a collaboration that explores new perspectives in footwear, combining functionality and design, supported by research from the ASICS Institute of Sport Science.

From adopting a wrestling sole to redesigning the insole for all-day comfort, and combining refined materials and colors, the goal was to create an innovative shoe in concept and durable in form. Among the innovations: the sensation of the foot wrapped in taping, the wrestling sole extending to the lower part of the upper for secure and stable grip. The design is inspired by gecko limbs, offering not only excellent traction but also a distinctive visual impact.

To support long hours of daily wear, a new foot-shaped last was developed, widening the originally narrow wrestling sole shape. Paired with a responsive FLYTEFOAM PROPEL insole and an Ortholite® inner lining, the shoe ensures maximum comfort while maintaining a thin sole.

HYPER TAPING™ represents an innovation in footwear, where design and functionality meet in perfect harmony. Every detail reflects the care and expertise of the two brands, elevating the sneaker concept to a higher level.

The collaboration demonstrates how aesthetics and performance can coexist without compromise. The result is a sneaker that supports the foot in every movement with style and comfort. ASICS and MIYAKE DESIGN STUDIO take a new step together at the frontier of sports design.