Summary
ASICS SportStyle has teamed up with Camiel Fortgens for its inaugural Crafts for Mind project on the GEL-CUMULUS 16The collaboration reinterprets the technical silhouette into raw Mary Jane and VELCRO styles inspired by children’s footwearThe green colorways launch September 24, 2026 in Amsterdam followed by an October release for the brown pairs
ASICS SportStyle and Camiel Fortgens have officially revealed their debut GEL-CUMULUS 16 collaboration as part of the brand’s Crafts for Mind initiative. Grounded in trial-and-error craftsmanship and intentional imperfections, the project bridges technical footwear heritage with a raw, hand-crafted aesthetic.
The project transforms the familiar performance running shape into two distinct formats: a Mary Jane-inspired model and a VELCRO silhouette. Drawing design cues from the simplicity of children’s shoes, both pairs feature layered leather patches, irregular stitching, and hand-cut overlays set against ASICS’ signature side stripes. Offered in green and brown executions, the customized shoes reflect Fortgens’ unpolished design ethos while keeping the core technical form intact.
Rooted in ASICS’ Sound Mind, Sound Body philosophy, the Crafts for Mind program is a non-profit initiative supporting mental well-being through creativity. A portion of the proceeds from this drop will be donated to the FFort Foundation to support young adults with art and storytelling initiatives following cancer treatment. The collection is accompanied by a campaign shot in Amsterdam by filmmaker Patrick Louwerse and photographer Pieter Numan, documenting daily urban gestures across the city.
The green iterations of the Camiel Fortgens x ASICS SportStyle GEL-CUMULUS™ 16 launch on September 24, 2026, at Tillatec in Amsterdam. The brown colorways will follow in October 2026 exclusively at Dover Street Market London and the Camiel Fortgens flagship store in Amsterdam.
