Karimoku New Standard x ASICS Transforms Unused Trainers Into Innovative Furniture

Words by: Hanan Khair

From sneaker soles to cushy chairs; Japanese high-end furniture brand Karimoku New Standard (KNS) has released a collaboration with ASICS featuring cushions manufactured from recycled footwear materials. The KNS x ASICS Collaboration uses deadstock and sample trainers from ASICS that would have otherwise been discarded.

The collection introduces two specific pieces: the Castor Lobby Sofa and the Polar Lounge Chair, both carry an embroidered tag symbolising the collaboration.

By applying the same technique ASICS uses for its upcycled “NEOCURVE” shoe, the furniture maker has transformed soft ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam that is extracted, sorted and crushed from discarded footwear into a cushioning material.

The chair cushions feature a hybrid structure that combines cotton mixed with the extracted EVA foam chips and a three-millimetre-thick sheet of compressed foam. This material provides a balance of softness, resilience and durability, ensuring a comfortable seating experience.

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The two-layer structure offers a gentle “sink-in” feel while providing lasting support, allowing the cushions to retain their shape even with prolonged use in office settings. The collaboration between these two brands, which was introduced in Japan earlier this year before the recent global launch, was first developed to achieve the “ideal seating comfort” for meeting spaces at ASICS’ Tokyo office.

For more information, check out Karimoku New Standard’s official website.