ASICS TO LAUNCH COLLECTION OF SHOES AND PACKAGING INCORPORATING RECYCLED MATERIALS IN TESTAMENT TO ECO- FRIENDLY PRACTICES OF EARLY TOKYO

ASICS are to produce some very selected shoes from a recycled polyester made from PET bottles. The polyester will be used to make the uppers. The range of 10 shoes, 6 running and 4 lifestyle shoes, will be packaged and called the Edo Era Tribute Pack.

The eco-friendly practices of Edo were practised by the Japanese during the 17th to 19th centuries where reusing and recycling was a way of life.

These items represent the first stage of an ASICS drive to switch to 100% recycled polyester fibres in all of its uppers by 2030 to help combat climate change. 

 The boxes will also be eco-friendlier. Made from 100% recycled paper, they will decals printed using water-based ink rather than their usual oil-based ones. These boxes will be rolled-out and Asics hope this will reduce their annual CO2 emissions by approx. 1,200 metric tons.   

The upper design incorporates a blend of Edo Era lettering styles. One lettering style is yose moji, typically used for posters and flyers. The other is kakuji, which are thick, squared characters, which often featured on scraps of paper that worshippers often posted on the gates of shrines and temples.