Asics Are Dropping a Late-Breaking Contender for the Summer’s Boldest Kicks

Asics is on one in 2026. The Japanese footwear stalwart has hardly missed once this year, dropping a bevy of top-tier collabs with everyone from shrunken-suit master Thom Browne to the British minimalists at Studio Nicholson. Now, for its latest trick, the brand is heading to South America, linking up with Brazil’s Carnan for the splashiest kicks of the week.Founded in 2018 by Paolo Carneiro and Breno Fernandes, Carnan is one of the biggest names in Brazilian streetwear, regularly partnering with major labels like Clarks, Umbro, and Veja. They’re at their best when playing with color, often basing collections around distinct, rich shades—think burnt orange, mossy greens, and in the case of this latest Asics joint, deep purple.Courtesy of CarnanFor their second collaboration, Carnan and Asics are dropping a Gel-Cumulus 16 that’s been given the proper royal treatment. The shoe’s upper comes in a mesh and suede pairing decked out almost entirely in a rich purple—we’re talking Grimace business here. The details are subtle: a couple of ribbons of teal across the uppers, plus the Asics logo on the tongue in the same shade. The bouncy sole breaks things up with an earthy charcoal black, the perfect neutral to balance it all out.Courtesy of CarnanIn addition to the kicks, the collection comes with a killer array of apparel to match the shoes. There’s a purple coaches jacket matching the tone of the shoes as well as trousers in the same charcoal as the sole. A white tee bears a big purple Asics logo and Carnan branding and the whole jam is tied together with a purple ballcap.With their second collaboration looking like a surefire hit, keep an eye out for more from Asics and Carnan in the year ahead–we have a feeling the best is yet to come. The Carnan x Asics Gel-Cumulus 16 drops globally on August 20 via select retailers for $200.