Kiko Kostadinov Guides The Creation Of The New ASICS FN2-S GEL-CONTEND 5

Last year, Kiko Kostadinov and ASICS made the move from collaborators to coworkers. And the terms of their new partnership, which resulted in the end of the two’s co-branded relationship, stated that the Bulgarian designer and his team would help foster a brand new inline series under the Sportstyle flag. Since then, several silhouettes have come to the forefront with more, like the new FN2-S GEL-CONTEND 5, still on the way.

Part for its color, part for its design, the CONTEND is rather compelling as it renders all of the original’s more lackluster features redundant. It also bears a passing resemblance to the Korika, one of Kostadinov’s older, overlooked releases. Glossy panels dress the upper in a similar fashion, shrouding a breathable, synthetic quarter panel, while series’ signatures brand the tongue and insole. Below, even the sole receives a considerable upgrade as it borrows the shape and tread of adjacent performance staples.

Hued in a Spring-ready “Mint Tint” and an Ultraman-esque “Beet Juice/Silver,” the CONTEND is due to hit select retailers later this month on April 22nd.

Looking for something crazier? Check out the Jordan Air Mae.