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Karam el Shenawy
January 20, 2023
Through the Japanese company Toyoda Gosei, which has already specialized in other recycled products from cars, Asics will launch these curious sneakers. A hint, will they inflate at the slightest hit?
The current trend in the automotive sector is focused on the use of recycled, sustainable materials and, in many cases, with zero animal impact. It is increasingly normal to see how car interiors use elements such as bamboo wood, vegan leather and even parts made with plastics collected from the seabed and recycled later. It is also common to see how certain parts of vehicles that are no longer in use are used for idle purposes through companies specialized in the production of furniture for homes and/or offices.
It may interest you: 5 cars that opt for recycled interiors
Now, what Asics has just done is completely unprecedented. The sports shoe company has collaborated with the Japanese company Toyoda Gosei to give it a second use the fabric that covers the airbags of cars and that would normally be deleted. However, according to what they say, this material is strong, flexible and very durable, qualities that are perfect for producing footwear.
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Yes, you read that right, Asics has just launched the first shoes made with vehicle airbags. Its characteristics described above make it perfect for adapting to the upper part of the shoe. Named Asics Gel-Sonoma 15-50 it would be the more adventurous version of the Gel-Sonoma range specifically for trail running. Aesthetically, the designers have preserved the stitching and red numbering visible on all airbags manufactured by Toyoda Gosei, adding, as a distinctive as well as informative touch, the image of an inflated airbag on the tongue.
This is not the first time that Toyoda Gosei has repurposed car parts into fashion accessories. you have already produced bags or pen cases with the leather of the steering wheels or with the same airbag. In the case of these Asics shoes, you can order them from January 26 for a price that starts from 16,500 yen which in exchange is about 117 euros.
