This lace-less sneaker is probably one of ASIC’s coolest

As sneakers go through an identity crisis, more are appearing as kicks that have little to do with their track, field, and court origins. They want to be sneakers, they want to be ballet flats, they want to be Mary Janes, even sandals, anything but sneakers in the traditional, even performance, sense. The latest to join those shoes with sense of self on sabbatical is Asics. Their newest, under their Sportstyle category, is the Gel-Filimy, a shoe that looks to us to be a cross between a Nike Air Rift (minus the tabi-toe front) and a Mary Jane, with its low-cut vamp and enclosed toe. The sneaker, once defined by its function, is now identified by its adaptability and its ability to reflect complex modern identities.

The Gel-Filimy may sound like they are named after something filmy, but the shoes, while lightweight, are far from thin. It takes the rugged sole unit of the archival Asics Gel-Nanddi and topped it with a poly-mesh and neoprene upper that could pass off as water shoes with a far more rugged profile. The upper’s wide cutouts and thick crossover straps, which makes the shoes very breathable and suitable for scorching weather, like what we are experiencing now. The ends of the straps are secured with a snap-closure, which makes them a tad easier to unfasten than the typical velcro adhesion. And because they do not wrap your feet snugly, they are a far more comfortable—and stylish—alternative to Crocs.

Much has been said about how the pursuit of athleisure has affected our footwear choices. Since many who buy sneakers do not use them for athletic pursuits, it seems that they are picking trainers that veer away from those that have the typical aesthetics of a sports shoe. According to a January 2025 Bloomberg report, approximately 57% of consumers who buy running shoes do not use them for sporting activities, suggesting that casual wear is the main reason of purchase. This rather high percentage of sneakers bought for non-sporting activities is undeniably a significant factor, influencing the current footwear market and what brands put out.

A strong demand for versatile, un-sneaker-looking shoes that can be worn in various settings could suggest that we have overdosed on the likes of the Adidas Samba or the Nike Airmax. This trend challenges traditional athletic brands to adapt their product offerings and marketing strategies and directly contributes to the rise of hybrid footwear categories, such as ‘snoafers’, which Nike belatedly adopted. Hybridisation of footwear is a major design direction even when it is already a tried-and-tested approach in apparel. Brands are intentionally merging elements of traditional, formal, or casual shoes into forms that are post-ugly sneakers, without sacrificing hideousness even monstrousness. Frankenstein has influenced footwear before, but more blatantly now.

Photos: Jim Sim