Anime Series BLEACH Celebrates its 20th Anniversary With An Asics GT-2160 and Gel-NYC

Published October 17, 2024

Anime has inspired countless footwear releases via direct collaboration or unofficial nods. Looking at Asics, the Japanese footwear brand has had multiple anime collaborations over the last few years, including a Naruto Shippuden and Pokémon collection and a Gel-NYC for Naruto. Now, the brand has unveiled a new partnership with the help of Foot Locker and Champs as Asics celebrates BLEACH’s 20th Anniversary with a Gel-NYC and GT-2160.

Asics looks to honor two of the series’ main characters, with Ichigo Kurosaki represented on the GT-2160 and Renji Abarai on the Gel-NYC. Starting with Ichigo’s sneaker, the GT-2160 gets a color palette that resembles his Shinigami attire as we see black accents on the synthetic leather along the toe, eyestays, and heel overlay. Below this is a white mesh, and we see orange and red accents pop along panels near the collar, the Asics logo on the midfoot, and the tongue branding details. While the lateral side of the right shoe displays the standard GT-2160 text, the medial side hosts Japanese text that reads “黒崎一護,” translating to Ichigo Kurosaki. Another nod to Kurosaki is found on the spine of the heel, with a skull logo representing the Hollow mask. Inside, the sneaker contains branding for BLEACH on the right shoe and Asics on the left. Finishing the design is the cream foam midsole with pops of orange and black paired with a tonal outsole.

Moving on to Renji’s Gel-NYC, the model comes covered in bright red suede, as seen on the mudguard, perforated toebox, and fuzzy midfoot and collar. More suede details are found in black along the vamp and eyelets, while synthetic textured leather lines the toebox and Asics logo on the midfoot. The color palette is likely about Renji’s bright red hair and black outfit, though we see more overt nods to the character on other parts of the sneaker. Like Ichigo, Abarai’s name is presented in Japanese characters, 阿散井恋次, on the lateral side of the left shoe, and the heel features symbols for the 6th Divison of the Goeti 13. All this rests above the cream and red Gel and foam-cushioned midsole paired with a rubber outsole.

According to Foot Locker, the BLEACH x Asics Gel-NYC and GT-2160 will debut at New York Comic Con, though it’s not clear if it will be offered for sale. The collection will be available exclusively to shop this holiday season via Foot Locker and Champs Sports online and in-store. Available in men’s sizing, the retail price is set at $145 for the GT-2160 and $165 for the Gel-NYC. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.