Quick Facts
- The black-on-black colorway looks plain from a distance, but up close, the paneling adds a twinkling play on Raden, the centuries-old artistic practice of inlaying mother-of-pearl’s iridescent color shifting inside of wood or lacquer
- On the Gel-Kayano 12.1, atmos trades the wood or lacquer for the synthetic stabilizing patterns of the upper
- The atmos x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1 Raden will be released February 13, 2026
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When Japanese boutique atmos teams up with a sneaker brand for a collab, the team dives deep into local culture to bring Japanese history to life in footwear form. For its first colorway with Asics in 2026, atmos is tapping into a Japanese art form that goes back to the Silk Road, bringing a shimmering mother-of-pearl inlay to a classic Asics upper.
We first got a look at the atmos x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1 Raden in December with a quick in-box sneak peek of the collab pair. The black-on-black colorway looks plain from a distance, but up close, the paneling adds a twinkling play on Raden, the centuries-old artistic practice of inlaying mother-of-pearl’s iridescent color shifting inside of wood or lacquer. On the Gel-Kayano 12.1, atmos trades the wood or lacquer for the synthetic stabilizing patterns of the upper.
“This special edition model fuses traditional Japanese beauty with street culture, embodying the creativity that only atmos can offer,” the atmos team wrote about the colorway. “The upper shines with different angles and different light conditions, evoking the look of mother-of-pearl inlay, while the inner sole is also designed with a colorful sparkle.”
The atmos x Asics Gel-Kayano 12.1 Raden will be released February 13, 2026 through atmos in-store and online. Available in unisex sizing, the retail price is set at approximately $180. For all the latest atmos collab news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
