Earl's Collection x Asics GT-2160
Imo, this is one of my favorite Asics designs to release since the OG Hal Studios 1130 back in '22. The aesthetic, materials, & meaning behind the name "Earl's", is truly what separates this Collab from the others.
Materials: starting w/ the mesh, it's a cream, net mesh, similar to what we saw on the stussy spiridon, but the weave pattern is similar to a 🏈. I liked that on the tongue he used a different pattern that's similar to the 🪡 of a sweater. Moving to the panels, they used a soft brown suede that carries t/o the majority of the upper. What I thought was unique is that the borders of the suede have a leather-look to it with lines debossed into the suede rather than adding another material/color. On the stripes we have that same leather border w/ a suede inlay & the stripes pattern debossed into it. Small detail, but a nice touch were the laces, which felt like a really soft sweater. Lastly, on the insoles, they pay homage to the Paua sea shell which is a maori given name aka abalone. Overall, the attn to detail & material quality put into the design shows that a lot of heart & passion went into this design.
Comfort/Sizing: the 2160 comfort is similar to the Gel-Nimbus 9 & kayano 14 but not as soft as the Kayano 14. It has a squishy feel on foot but also has a feeling of firmness & stability as well. In terms of sizing, I got these in a size 8 & they honestly fit me pretty well.
Overall Opinion: what I love about this Collab is that Lewi started Earls as a way to create a positive outlook on his dad & grandfather who passed due to mental health. He created his brand to change the narrative and put aside his career in sports to make this possible. I related a lot to that bc I started this page when my best friend passed & I wanted his legacy to live on, hence the name riblets. To see folks come out of the dark & turn that into light is special & inspirational. I never intended to do any of this, just like Lewi prolly never thought he'd be where he is today, but sometimes life has other plans. Mad respect @lewi_brown, fantastic work & congrats @knowear.co on the special in-store launch.