Metagirl and ASICS Go Grunge to Customize the GEL-NUNOBIKI

Known for unveiling the ultra-feminine side to the sneaker scene with her meticulously made customizations, Caterina Mongillo, a.k.a. Metagirl, brought her distinct design language to the Big Apple for a customization workshop with ASICS. Held at 41 Division St., in the heart of Lower East Side hotspots, the Italian creative hosted an intro class on personalizing the ASICS GEL-NUNOBIKI to add a fresh flair to your footwear.

Gathered on the top floor of 41 Division, guests gave their full attention to Mongillo as she described the step-by-step process of sneaker personalization with endless embellishments to choose from. Staying true to her grunge-girl aesthetic, Mongillo compiled charms of high-end and precious materials to accent ASICS' sneakers. Choosing from the Black/Obsidian Gray and Cream/Pure Silver colorways, attendees such as DJ Mellow Domingo, co-founder of Ino Jewelry, Thuyen Nguyen, content creators Valentino Bonacci and Nasir Figueroa, played with keshi pearls from Japan, metal spiky studs and obsidian stones, romantic satin ribbons, sustainably sourced feathers, frilly french lace and more to level up ASICS' latest. 

"[I was inspired to do] something that was easy and that I wasn't going to mess up," Domingo shared. "I like a lot of metallic or silver because I feel like it would go with most of the stuff that I wear if I stuck with a silver palette."

"I started with a color palette that would complement the lace and then the pearls," Nguyen said. "I had an overall color in mind which is silverish, white, ivory and black. The shoe in the very beginning is very white so I wanted to add some sort of contrast to it and then I just went with the flow. I added the pearls, the lace and then from there I saw what I should take out or what I should add in. It was a very fluid [process]," she concluded. 

In between Mongillo's in-person guide to design, small bites and beverages, guests gained insight into the US-based creative's career trajectory and the sneaker's own story. Deriving its design details and name from the Nunobiki Falls in Japan, the shoe strikes a balance between an earthy aesthetic – taking creative cues from the region's rich landscapes – and ASICS' sleek styling. The ethereal event marks another branded customization class for Mongillo and her affectionately dubbed "metaangelz," who've had their fair share since the 29-year-old first set foot into the sneaker personalization game. 

"ASICS reached out to me about a year ago and I'm so happy we made it happen through this amazing silhouette," she shared. "It's the first time that I'm curating the whole workshop – not only the materials selection and hero custom shoe. It was important to make sure our guests felt immersed in a Metagirl world too. From the creative direction to the set design, everything came together through that vision. At the same time I made sure [that] the curation of materials was enough to allow everyone to express [themselves]."

"With the GEL-NUNOBIKI customization, the vibe I was going for was a "grunge-angel aesthetic" and the 2010s Tumblr era. I've been reflecting and philosophizing about the ongoing battle between evil and good for the past years and with the visual duality of this drop - with a black and white colorway - as well as the "angel vs. devil" trend coming back, I realized this was the perfect moment to explore this theme. I used the white [GEL-NUNOBIKI] as a canvas to portray an ethereal angel and let the guests come up with an antagonist."

"At the same time, it was very important to me to highlight the lace-like textures of the GEL-NUNOBIKI underlays, [reminiscent] of natures' flora from the Nunobiki Falls," she went on to explain. "I worked towards adding depth to those and highlighting ASICS' branding on the lateral by hand-sewing clear quartz, clear round crystal beads, keshi and biwa natural freshwater pearls to the upper [as a way] to recall the rocks you encounter on a hike in the outdoors. The final touch is given by the sustainably sourced feathers, or "angel wings," which in my option contextualize the design back into current fashion."

In the galleries above, see how the ASICS x Metagirl exclusive event came to life in the city. Be sure to snag the GEL-NUNOBIKI sneakers – and add your own touch to them – by visiting ASICS online or in-store today. 

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebae