ASICS Tiger and award-winning specialty boutique Commonwealth preserve Filipino culture through their collaboration on the GEL-LYTE V. Although, having stores in Washington, DC, and Virginia Beach, Commonwealth has looked to its newest store in Manila and Kalinga to create a sneaker that pays homage to one of the country’s preserved traditions.
The Kalinga is an ethnic group in the Philippines that inhabit the mountains of Luzon. Due to the mountainous terrain and warrior-culture of the people, the Kalinga were able to preserve their culture despite centuries of occupation in the lowlands by the Spaniards, Americans, and the Japanese.
That includes the intricate tribal art of body adornment, drawing on basic geometric shapes and nature-inspired designs. This ancient technique of adornment is called “batok” that dates back a thousand years. These designs were used to communicate with one another for generations. They represented who they were, where they came from, and what they stood for, therein revealing an insight to the people’s philosophy and social standards.
Inspired by that sacred tradition, dubbed the “Kultura” GEL-LYTE V, ASICS Tiger and Commonwealth pay respect in sneaker form. Nubuck, premium suede, and breathable mesh upper meets Kalinga inspired art on the s GEL-LYTE V’s signature mono sock-tongue, bridging the gap between a reverence for the past and a foot towards the future.
The GEL-LYTE V was originally released in 1993 as a marathon shoe while the “Kultura” (tagalog for Culture) represents the need to preserve Filipino culture and traditions as a race that’s worth running.