The collaboration between Karimoku New Standard and ASICS doesn’t read as simple co-branding, but as a shared research ground where design and performance meet to redefine the relationship between material, function, and production responsibility.

At the heart of the project—presented last month in Tokyo—are two models: the Castor Lobby Sofa and the Polar Lounge Chair L/S. Both become a vehicle for a tangible reflection on circular economy principles. The cushions are made from unused ASICS shoes, including dead stock and sample pairs originally destined for disposal, transformed through a technology developed for NEOCURVE footwear. Dismantled, crushed, and sorted, the shoes are converted into EVA foam, creating a new cushioning material that shifts recycling from a symbolic gesture to a structured, industrial process.

The cushion construction is hybrid and carefully tuned: a blend of cotton and EVA foam chips is paired with a 3 mm sheet of compressed foam, designed to deliver a precise balance of softness, resilience, and durability. This is where Karimoku’s manufacturing know-how comes through, translating an unconventional material into everyday comfort through testing, adjustments, and a refined calibration of material ratios. Each piece is finished with a special embroidered tag that brings together the ASICS and KNS logos—a discreet detail that signals a shared vision rather than a simple signature.

The project was accompanied by a special exhibition at THE MATERIALS LAB, on the second floor of the KARIMOKU RESEARCH CENTER, where exclusive versions of the models were presented, upholstered in textiles by Kvadrat. Three different materials—each inspired by distinct sporting scenes—selected by David Glättli, translate the energy of movement into a visual and tactile grammar designed for the domestic space.

This collaboration stands out as a project in its own right, proving how design can become cultural infrastructure, not just form. It’s an exercise in balance between industry and sensitivity, where waste turns into a resource and the dialogue between different worlds generates new possibilities—without the need for loud declarations.