Karimoku Furniture Co., Ltd. announces a groundbreaking collaboration between its Karimoku New Standard (KNS) brand and global sportswear company ASICS. The partnership launches innovative furniture made from recycled shoe materials on January 17, 2026, available through the Karimoku official online shop and KNS retail locations nationwide.
This collaboration transforms unused ASICS shoes—including deadstock and samples—into cushion materials for two furniture models: the Castor Lobby Sofa and the Polar Lounge Chair. By applying technology from ASICS' NEOCURVE shoe, foam materials (EVA) are broken down, separated, and regenerated into furniture-grade cushion materials, presenting new possibilities for the circular economy. The cushion structure features a hybrid design combining cotton mixed with EVA foam chips and a 3mm thick sheet of compressed foam material, achieving moderate softness, resilience, and excellent durability. Leveraging Karimoku's furniture manufacturing expertise, the team pursued optimal foam material ratios and sheet thickness to deliver comfortable seating. Each piece features special embroidered tags displaying both the ASICS and KNS brand logos as testament to this collaborative philosophy.
To commemorate the launch, a special exhibition featuring three models upholstered in Kvadrat textiles will be held at KARIMOKU RESEARCH CENTER 2F "THE MATERIALS LAB" in Nishiazabu, Tokyo, starting January 17, 2026. Under the creative direction of KNS Creative Director David Glättli, the furniture showcases Kvadrat's Arda knit fabrics selected to evoke three sports scenes: trail, street, and tennis court, expressing the narrative of ASICS shoes transformed into furniture.
Product Features
Cushion Structure Applying ASICS Technology
Applying technology from the ASICS-developed NEOCURVE shoe, the design adopts a hybrid structure combining cotton mixed with EVA foam chips and a 3mm thick compressed foam sheet. Based on years of furniture manufacturing expertise, the team pursued optimal foam material mixing ratios and sheet thickness, achieving moderate softness, resilience, and excellent durability.
Seating Comfort Ideal for Office Work
The two-layer structure—covering the mixed cotton layer with the sheet—combines mild, body-conforming compression with stability that prevents deterioration over long-term use. Compared to standard models, the seating offers milder compression and stable comfort, making it suitable for scenarios requiring concentration, such as PC work.
Special Collaborative Mark
Both ASICS and KNS brand logos are embroidered on special tags, serving as evidence of this collaborative philosophy.
ASICS EDITION Lineup
Castor Lobby Sofa
Price: 1-Seater ¥246,400 to ¥306,900 (tax included)
2-Seater ¥394,900 to ¥497,200 (tax included)
3-Seater ¥539,000 to ¥694,100 (tax included)
Polar Lounge Chair L
Price: ¥206,800 to ¥302,500 (tax included)
with Side Table L/R ¥221,100 to ¥316,800 (tax included)
Polar Lounge Chair S
Price: ¥143,000 to ¥216,700 (tax included)
with Arms ¥172,700 to ¥246,400 (tax included)
※The above URL will be active from noon on January 17, 2026 (Saturday).
Development Background: Field-Driven Craftsmanship Pursuing Ideal Seating Comfort
The cushion structure for this product originated from the pursuit of "ideal seating comfort" in the meeting spaces of ASICS' Tokyo office. Through multiple sessions with ASICS, leveraging their sports engineering expertise, and a rigorous adjustment process anticipating actual office use, Karimoku repeatedly prototyped to transform the unfamiliar material of shoe scrap into furniture-grade "comfort." This field-driven, uncompromising exploration gave birth to an innovative hybrid structure. While maintaining a sustainable perspective on material reuse, the product converts this into "functional added value." This product embodies Karimoku's manufacturing technology and craftsmanship that continues to challenge across domains.
KARIMOKU RESEARCH CENTER Special Model Exhibition
To commemorate this collaborative model launch, three models upholstered in special fabrics will be exhibited and available for trial at KARIMOKU RESEARCH CENTER in Nishiazabu, Tokyo. Under the direction of KNS Creative Director David Glättli, the furniture features Arda knit fabrics from Danish textile manufacturer Kvadrat, selected to evoke three sports scenes: trail, street, and tennis court. These special models express the story of ASICS shoes transformed into furniture.
Exhibition Details
Exhibition Period: January 17 (Saturday) to February 14 (Saturday), 2026
Hours: 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Closed: Every Sunday ※Please check the facility website for operating status.
Venue: KARIMOKU RESEARCH CENTER 2F "THE MATERIALS LAB"
Facility Website: https://www.karimoku-research.com/jp
Founded in Kobe in 1949, ASICS' founding philosophy—"Sound mind in a sound body"—represents the company's wish to help people worldwide achieve healthy and happy lives, both physically and mentally. In addition to core sports products, the company develops products for sports-style categories and lifestyle markets including Onitsuka Tiger, contributing to people's physical and mental health. With overseas sales accounting for over 80% of revenue, this Japanese-born global enterprise is moving toward its next growth stage with its 100th anniversary in view.
Website: https://corp.asics.com/jp
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asics
Karimoku New Standard is a brand established in 2009 that fuses progressive ideas with superior manufacturing technology. Karimoku Furniture's craftspeople, with their unique perspectives cultivated over the years, collaborate with leading designers from Japan and abroad to work toward becoming a new standard in Japanese furniture design. KNS utilizes underutilized domestic broadleaf trees, aiming to contribute sustainably to issues facing Japan's forests, including forest conservation and revitalization of forestry regions.
Website: https://www.karimoku-newstandard.jp/
Instagram: @karimokunewstandard
Karimoku Furniture's origins trace back to 1940, when founder Shohei Kato took over a long-established timber business and started a small woodworking shop in Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture. By producing various wooden products to hone their skills, the company began selling self-manufactured wooden furniture in the 1960s. Embracing a manufacturing concept of "High-tech & High-touch," which fuses advanced machinery technology with craftsman expertise, Karimoku established its foundation in wooden production and grew into one of Japan's leading wooden furniture manufacturers.
Website: https://www.karimoku.com/
Instagram: @karimoku_official
