Japanese high jeweler Tasaki is known for its elegant pearl and diamond creations, and now it’s bringing the former to a new frontier by collaborating with ASICS for a set of pearl-adorned takes on the GT-2160. Unlike most footwear collaborations, where a set of standardized styles are produced, each pair from the Tasaki x ASICS GT-2160 offering is unique. They also don’t come cheap, with the collection’s most adorned styles retailing for almost $30,000 USD.
The GT-2160 colorway used for the collection is an airy blend of white, cream and tan tones, with a handful of silver accents and (fittingly) pearlescent finishes to add flair. The show’s real stars, of course, are Tasaki’s pearls. These are Akoya pearls, a type of pearl that’s known for its extremely lustrous finish as well as being rarer and sleeker than freshwater pearls. On the collection’s more high-priced models, they’re spread out over the shoe’s upper in a crochet-like web, dangled over the lateral side like necklaces or stacked atop the laces. On the lower-priced iterations, they serve as lace deubres, accented by small touches of gold.
Expect the Tasaki x ASICS GT-2160 collection to be officially unveiled at Tasaki’s FLOATING SHELL exhibition in Tokyo on April 26. Prices range from ¥165,000 JPY (just under $1,100 USD) to ¥4,411,000 (slightly over $29,000 USD).