Above The Clouds Weaves Leather Into the ASICS GEL-SD-LYTE

Above The Clouds and ASICS are back at it, and this time the Australian boutique has quite literally woven something new out of the GEL-SD-LYTE. The usual mesh is gone, replaced by strips of leather in a moody Black/Gunmetal colourway that feels more handcrafted than factory-fresh.

A Closer Look at the Above The Clouds x ASICS GEL-SD-LYTE 'Black/Gunmetal'

The whole upper is built from overlapping leather strips, leaving small gaps between them for a handmade, basket-weave finish. Darker panels frame the toe, eyestays and heel, keeping the weave in check without drowning it out.

Look closely and you'll spot ASICS' stripes blending straight into the woven pattern on both sides, rather than sitting on top of it. Underneath, the original GEL-SD-LYTE tooling stays exactly where it is.

The idea behind it all? Weaving as an age-old craft, passed from hand to hand and city to city. Above The Clouds describes the pair as a tribute to communities of craft and design, and the tonal, all-black palette lets that texture do the talking.

Who Are Above The Clouds?

Founded by Dimitri Calligeros and John Paul Wager, Above The Clouds started out in Sydney's Surry Hills around fifteen years ago and opened its second store in Melbourne in 2025. The shelves mix trainers from the likes of ASICS, Nike and Salomon with clothing from labels such as Marni and Casablanca.

Their history with ASICS runs deep, too. The pair have already teamed up on the GEL-Quantum 360, GT-2160, GEL-1090 and Skycourt. The GEL-SD-LYTE itself has been having a bit of a moment lately, with Comme des Garçons and Kiko Kostadinov both putting their spin on the silhouette.

When And Where To Get It

The Above The Clouds x ASICS GEL-SD-LYTE 'Black/Gunmetal' (1203B090-001) lands first in Australia, in-store at Above The Clouds' Sydney and Melbourne shops on 25 September, with an online drop following a day later. A wider launch through ASICS and select retailers is expected to follow, but UK release details and pricing haven't been confirmed yet.

In the meantime, you can browse the wider GEL-SD-LYTE line over at ASICS. We'll update this page as soon as UK details land.

IMAGE CREDITS: ASICS X ABOVE THE CLOUDS