VANDYTHEPINK and ASICS reunite for a new interpretation of the GEL-KAYANO 12.1, introducing Vanilla and Chocolate colorways inspired by founder Vandy Son’s life between Korea and the United States. The project takes one of Son’s longtime favorite ASICS silhouettes and connects it with memories from his childhood in Korea.
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Son spent his first 17 years in Korea before moving to the United States, where he has lived for the following 20 years. Those two periods inform the collection, with VANDYTHEPINK using personal memories and cultural references to tell the story behind each shoe.
The central reference comes from “Aiseu-Keki” (아이스케키), a nostalgic Korean term for frozen treats. Before convenience stores offered extensive ice cream selections, neighborhood vendors sold them during hot summer afternoons. Children and adults gathered around the vendors, turning the simple treat into a familiar part of summer life.
Son experienced those moments growing up in Korea, and the memory now provides the starting point for the collaboration. VANDYTHEPINK frequently turns ordinary references from everyday life into collectible designs, and the GEL-KAYANO 12.1 project applies that approach to a specific piece of Korean childhood culture.
The collaboration arrives in two versions inspired by familiar frozen-treat flavors. Vanilla receives the wider release, with ASICS retailers and selected stockists carrying the shoe internationally. Chocolate receives a smaller distribution, with VANDYTHEPINK offering the colorway exclusively through its direct-to-consumer channels in limited quantities.
Korean references continue throughout the footwear and packaging. VANDYTHEPINK incorporates Hangul into the GEL-KAYANO 12.1 for the first time through details placed on the shoes and custom shoeboxes. Small Korean phrases appear throughout the design, giving wearers additional elements to discover as they examine the product more closely.
These details connect directly with Son’s experience of living within two cultural contexts. His childhood in Korea established many of the references that continue to appear in his work, while his years in America shaped the creative direction and international reach of VANDYTHEPINK. The GEL-KAYANO 12.1 project gives both periods a clear role in the final design.
