CARNAN and ASICS Team Up Again, GEL-CUMULUS 16 Gets a Purple Suede Makeover

The black midsole is the only thing that hasn't changed. This time, CARNAN pulls the ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 16 away from its familiar 2010s white mesh and metallic silver colorway, dressing the whole shoe in purple with a few subtle strokes of blue across the upper. Wide mesh forms the base, with suede layered over the upper, while fine stitching details the toe box and eyelet area — marking the second collaboration between Brazilian brand CARNAN and Japanese sportswear label ASICS, titled "Path II."

The first collaboration took place in 2024, with that "Path" collection featuring multiple apparel pieces alongside a GEL-QUANTUM 360. This time, the black midsole is a design choice that pays homage to that QUANTUM 360. CARNAN co-founder Breno Fernandes says this collaboration pushes the narrative into a "full bloom" stage: "It's a direct metaphor for the evolution of our relationship with ASICS, which has now grown into a global marketing campaign with worldwide release scale."

He also noted that this sense of growth is reflected in the creative direction of the project itself: "We used more deliberate casting, more refined art direction, and set designs built specifically for the project, with references that lean closer to the fashion world rather than just what we drew from in our first collaboration. From the lighting, hand-painted backdrops, and color tones to the photography, every creative decision communicates this evolution — making the journey from the first collaboration to the second one clearly visible."

The CARNAN x ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 16 "Path II" will launch early through CARNAN's own channels on August 19th, followed by a global release at select retailers on August 20th. Pricing information has not yet been provided.