- ASICS Sportstyle has teamed up with British singer-songwriter Griff for a new interpretation of the GEL-CUMULUS 16, dropping June 12, 2026.
- The shoe arrives in a black colorway with a ribbon lacing system inspired by ballet aesthetics, exploring themes of strength, grace, and discipline.
- This marks Griff's debut sneaker collaboration, and comes off the back of her nearly reaching a billion streams as one of pop's fastest-rising British voices.
- ASICS has been on a serious roll with fashion collaborations in 2026, also linking up with Thom Browne and Kimhekim this year.
ASICS Sportstyle has teamed up with British singer-songwriter Griff for a fresh take on the GEL-CUMULUS 16. The collaboration brings together music, movement, and personal expression, connecting to ASICS’ core philosophy of Anima Sana in Corpore Sano.
The shoe lands in a black colorway and features a distinctive ribbon lacing system inspired by ballet aesthetics. New touches include glossy overlays, ruffled edges, and a mesh upper that balances retro runner with just enough “future dad” energy.
Griff said of the design: “I wanted the shoe to feel like an extension of my everyday style, playful and elegant but also comfortable and something I can style from studio days to performing on stage.”
The 25-year-old singer-songwriter opened for Taylor Swift on the London stop of the Eras Tour and has since racked up almost a billion streams.
Off the back of her debut album Vertigo peaking at #3 on the UK Albums Chart, Griff debuted the viral hit “last night’s mascara” while opening for Sabrina Carpenter on the Short n’ Sweet Tour. Most recently, she fronted The North Face’s 40th anniversary Mountain Jacket global campaign in early 2025.
The trend of UK artists stepping into footwear deals is clearly gaining momentum: Cat Burns recently starred in New Balance’s 204L campaign, while on the broader artist-brand footwear front, Teyana Taylor’s recent Jordan Brand Concrete Rose apparel drop showed how deep these creative partnerships can go.
For ASICS, the Griff collaboration joins a packed 2026 lineup that also includes Thom Browne and Kimhekim.
The GEL-CUMULUS 16 by Griff drops June 12 and will be available at AFEW, Asphaltgold, BSTN, HHV, SUPPA, and the ASICS website.
Takeaways
This collab is a well-timed move for both sides. Griff is at peak cultural momentum, she’s gone from bedroom producer to stadium support act for Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter in just a few years, and the brand world is clearly paying attention.
The North Face signed her earlier this year, and now ASICS is handing her the keys to one of its most beloved silhouettes for her very first sneaker design. That’s not a small vote of confidence.
For ASICS, the Griff deal fits a clear 2026 pattern: the brand is chasing cultural credibility through fashion-forward partnerships (Thom Browne, Kimhekim, Junya Watanabe) while letting creative collaborators genuinely reimagine their silhouettes rather than just slap a logo on them.
Letting Griff inject ballet-inspired ribbon lacing and ruffled details into the GEL-CUMULUS 16 is a bold move for a running shoe.
The ballet-meets-runner design language is also smart brand storytelling, ASICS’ philosophy of “a healthy mind in a healthy body” maps naturally onto the discipline and artistry of both dance and pop performance.
Could this be the start of an ongoing ASICS ambassador relationship with Griff, or is this a one-off limited drop? With The North Face and ASICS both signing Griff in quick succession, is she building a serious sportswear endorsement lane alongside her music career?
