Routes by Helen Kirkum: A charitable initiative in partnership with Asics

Words by Gregory Noonan

After two successful collections from Dennis Buck and KASSL, we are proud to announce the third entry in ASICS’ “Crafts for Mind” series, created by London based designer, Helen Kirkum. All the profits from this sale will go directly to Right To Play, a global non-profit that protects, educates, and empowers children to rise above adversity using the power of sports and play. Their work takes place in some of the most dangerous places on earth, helping children stay in school, overcome prejudice, and heal from trauma. By harnessing sport, they teach children the critical skills they need to dismantle barriers and embrace opportunities, in learning and life.

Kirkum has worked to redefine our relationship with shoes since she first came on to the scene, having collaborated with the likes of YEEZY, Adidas and Nike already. Her speciality is the creation of shoes from post-consumer waste and the emphasis on giving discarded product a new life while creating a personal connection between the shoe and the owner. For this collaboration, Kirkum brought deadstock Asics 1090s together with post-consumer waste to create a deeply personal product that speaks to how we as humans present ourselves to the world.

A guiding mantra for Asics has always been “Sound Mind, Sound Body” because our mental health is inextricably connected to our physical health. And so for this collection, Kirkum created thirty hand-made shoes, exploring the comfort our routines bring us and the structure they bring to our minds.

When we run, we set out with a specific route, because in our everyday lives everything can be so manic and unsure, but when it’s just us running our route, for a moment, we can see everything ahead of us so clearly. So, on the toe box of each shoe, you will see a hand-stitched running route borrowed from amateur and professional runners alike.

What may seem a small detail, is in fact a deeply personal revelation of what makes someone feel better, of what helps them feel in control of their life.

Each of these shoes are unique, just like each one of us, which is embodied by the blanket-stitching detailing on the fore, as well as the DIY heel loop that acts as an eyelet on the back.

On the upper, Kirkum has stripped the inner medial side of the shoe of its rubber cage and replaced it with wispy thread strands, while enforcing the outer lateral portion with post-consumer waste. The shoe will also come with special wrapping in the box, printed with the coordinates of locations in Copenhagen and London that are uplifting to both Helen Kirkum and the staff here at NAKED Copenhagen.