Asics
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Template:Nihongo, commonly known as simply Asics (Template:IPAc-en, Template:IPAc-en<ref>"Move your mind to an amazing place"</ref> or Template:IPAc-en), is a Japanese multinational corporation that produces sportswear. Asics is best known for its sneakers, but also produces other footwear such as sandals, as well as clothing (T-shirts, jackets, hoodies, swimwear, compression garments, leggings, socks) and accessories (bags, backpacks, caps).
The name is an acronym for the Latin phrase anima sana in corpore sano (translated by Asics as "a sound mind, in a sound body"). It is headquartered in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.
HistoryEdit
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Asics began as Onitsuka Co., Ltd. on September 1, 1949.<ref name="corp">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Founder Template:Ill began manufacturing basketball shoes in his hometown of Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The range of sports activities serviced by the company expanded to a variety of Olympic styles used since the 1950s by athletes worldwide. Onitsuka became particularly known for the Mexico 66 design,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in which the distinctive crossed stripes (now synonymous with the company as the "Tiger Stripes") were featured for the first time; martial artist Bruce Lee helped popularize the shoe. Onitsuka Tiger merged with fishing and sporting goods company GTO and athletic uniform maker Jelenk to form Asics Corporation in 1977;<ref name="corp" /> Onitsuka was named president of the new company. Despite the name change, a vintage range of Asics shoes are still produced and sold internationally under the Onitsuka Tiger label.<ref name="Company_history">Template:Cite book</ref> In 2015, Asics launched its "Asics Tiger" lifestyle brand to market sportswear inspired by the company's designs of the 1970s to 1990s.<ref name="core77">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Asics bought the Swedish outdoor brand Haglöfs for Template:¥ ($128.7 million) on July 12, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In February 2016, Asics acquired fitness app Runkeeper.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> LionRock Capital Limited acquired a 100% interest in Haglöfs from Asics on December 18, 2023.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
File:ASICS Store Inside Boston.jpg Interior of the Asics store on Newbury Street, in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts |
File:HK TKO 將軍澳 Tseung Kwan O PopCorn mall shop asics clothing January 2022 Px3.jpg An Asics store located in the new towns of Hong Kong |
Asics generated Template:¥ in net sales and Template:¥ in net income in fiscal year 2023. 50% of the company's income came from the sale of performance running shoes, 33% from other shoes, 6% from apparel and equipment, and 11% from Onitsuka Tiger. 16% of the company's sales were in Japan, 21% in North America, 27% in Europe, 14% in China and 21% in other regions.<ref name="Integrated Report">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In March 2021, Asics launched Unoha (ウノハ), a brand geared towards women.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The brand mainly sells its products online and does not use physical locations other than temporary pop-ups that appear around Japan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Apart from being a female focused clothing brand, Unoha has also pledged to use organic and environmentally friendly materials in its products. Unoha's first brand ambassador was Harumi Sato.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On July 1, 2024, Asics announced that it had discontinued Unoha the previous month after only 3 years of existence.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Relationship with NikeEdit
Template:See also Nike, Inc. (originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports) was founded to sell Onitsuka Tiger shoes in the U.S. When Phil Knight visited Japan in 1963, shortly after he graduated from Stanford University, he was impressed by Onitsuka Tiger shoes and immediately visited the Onitsuka Tiger office and asked to be their sales agent in the U.S. After a number of years the relationship crumbled and both companies sued each other, with Nike retaining the naming rights to several shoes.<ref name="shoedog">Template:Cite book</ref>
SponsorshipsEdit
Asics sponsors a variety of sports associations, teams and individuals; sponsorships include World Athletics, the Los Angeles Marathon, as well as individual athletes such as volleyball player Ran Takahashi, footballer Takehiro Tomiyasu, and tennis players Iga Świątek, Novak Djokovic, Alex de Minaur and Jasmine Paolini.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The company announced on October 4, 2011, that it would be the new official kit manufacturer for the Australian national cricket team, replacing German manufacturer Adidas.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Asics is also the official sportswear partner of the Japanese Olympic Committee.
Working conditionsEdit
In March 2017, employees assembling Asics products in Cambodia fainted due to thick smoke present in the factory where they were working. The company responded to this by saying that it, along with the factory in question, would "address specific measures, with a focus on workers’ awareness and health and safety training, as well as including an improved air ventilation system".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In March 2021, while several Western clothing brands expressed concern over allegations of forced Uyghur labor involved in Xinjiang cotton production, Asics also announced that the Australian Olympic Team uniform would not contain cotton sourced from Xinjiang.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
GalleryEdit
- Asics brand logo (1977–2003).svg
The Asics logo from 1977 to 2006. The typeface, designed by Herb Lubalin, is still used for the "Asics Tiger" line.<ref name="core77" />
- Asics wrestling shoes.jpg
A pair of Asics wrestling shoes, model Split Second V
- Kinsei.jpg
A pair of Asics running shoes, model GEL-Kinsei
- Asics Gel-Pulse 11.jpg
A pair of Asics running shoes, model Gel-Pulse 11
- Asics Gel-Cumulus 22.jpg
Asics Gel-Cumulus 22, men's running shoes
- ASICS Gel-Kayano 26 (womens).jpg
Asics Gel-Kayano 26, women's running shoes
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Asics Template:Sports equipment brands Template:Running Shoe Brands Template:Competitive swimwear Template:Authority control