The Bleach manga covers are no stranger to decking its characters out in fashionable wear (or “drip”, as modern lingo would call it), so it’s only apt that the beloved series is celebrating its 20th anniversary with some sneaker flair. Japanese footwear brand Asics has joined forces with Tite Kubo’s anime classic to roll out a limited edition collaboration honouring two of its main characters, Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai.
Represented on the GT-2160, the former-themed kicks tout his signature palette of orange, black, and white. The spine of the heel is furnished with the Substitute Shinigami emblem, while the kanji spelling out his name can be found right next to it on the left-footed fit. On the inside is the Bleach branding, printed on the tongue.
Similarly, the Gel-NYC silhouette takes after Renji’s aesthetics. The red-and-black colourway is accompanied by a white sole and his name on the side of the left shoe, alongside the characters for the Sixth Division on the foxing. Both pairs of sneakers will be released in special packaging and men’s sizing, with prices ranging from US$145 to US$165.
The ASICS X Bleach collection launches sometime this holiday season, and can be purchased via Foot Locker and Champs Sports online and in-store. There’s no word on whether it will eventually be available outside of the U.S., but it’s set to debut at New York Comic Con, running from 17 to 20 October. It’s unclear if attendees will be able to buy the sneakers then, however.
This collaboration comes as Part 3 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, subtitled The Conflict, kicked off on 5 October. The anime’s first season premiered in October 2022, marking a welcome return after a ten-year hiatus and exciting fans with a brand-new, visually arresting art style. It adapts the final arc of the manga, which spans volumes 55 to 74, and will wrap up with four non-consecutive cours (quarters of a year).
Other 20th anniversary projects include a celebratory video that revisits iconic scenes from the original anime in the stylish, modern style the revival series is known for, and the forthcoming Bleach: Rebirth of Souls fighting game, due out in 2025.
The ASICS X Bleach collection will hit the streets when Holiday 2024 rolls around.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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