Helen Kirkum and ASICS Give Back to Charity with the GEL-1090

DIYing your favorite pair of kicks is nothing new in our beloved sneaker world and designer Helen Kirkum knows more than a bit about it all. Known for adding her own touch of uniqueness to any shoe at hand, the London-based creative often breaks down common favorites and makes them her own.

Now the designer has teamed up with ASICS to rework 30 pairs of its classic GEL-1090 sneaker with all proceeds of pairs sold going to charity to support children in need.

Dropping exclusively online at Naked Copenhagen, the designer has taken deadstock kicks and integrated consumer waste into its construction. By combining multiple protected and exposed layers across the pairs, she has created a collection that speaks for itself.

Honoring her home country, she has embroidered running routes found across the U.K. on the toe boxes while adding in a new lace system reminiscent of hiking shoes. Co-branded tongues are built from consumer waste and seem to be flipped inside-out adding a further sprinkle of individuality to each pair.

All 30 pairs have been handmade by Kirkum herself and act as 1/1 iterations that maintain the original GEL-1090 shape with sustainable touches throughout. Kirkum took to Instagram to provide more information on the release. "Each colorway comes with an info sheet, dissecting your specific pair and its unique color combination," she wrote.

Coming in a wide range of sizes, the pairs will be released online on Naked Copenhagen’s website come 26th February. All proceeds will be donated to children’s charity Right To Play which works to protect and educate children through sport and play.