Some collabs are about branding, some about nostalgia, and some about chemistry. The new “Octo” project from OJOS, atmos Pink, and ASICS arrives squarely in the third category. It is a sneaker that doesn’t feel like a quick partnership, a seasonal one-off, or even a trend-chasing special. Instead, the GEL-1130 RE has been pushed into a new language, shaped by three very different creative sensibilities that ultimately fuse into something unusually coherent. The result is a shoe that feels more like an artefact than a product — a sign that this collaboration was approached not as a checklist but as a genuine design conversation.

The GEL-1130 has quietly become one of ASICS’ most versatile templates over the past three years. Its running-heritage bones, Y2K structure, and naturally modular shape have made it an easy target for reworks, reinterpretations, and directional styling. But the RE variant (the “Re-Engineered” edition) gives collaborators more room to experiment with tooling, textiles, and layered construction. OJOS and atmos Pink step into that space with a vision that feels both playful and meticulous, pushing the sneaker into a softer yet more tech-expressive realm.

concept

The name “Octo” is more than a label — it’s a guiding metaphor. OJOS leans heavily into surrealist character design, while atmos Pink specializes in pop-styled femininity grounded in streetwear culture. When those influences meet ASICS’ performance engineering, the “Octo” identity emerges naturally: a creature-coded sneaker, built like an object with personality, softness, and a slightly alien charm.

The designers introduce octopus-inspired curvature not in an obvious or gimmicky way but through subtle organic flows along the overlays. Every line seems to curve where a running shoe typically straightens. Panels layer like folded skin, creating shadows that shift as the shoe moves. That curvature is supported by a textile selection that mixes bubbled mesh, lightly padded segments, and glossy synthetic accents. The shoe appears animated even when static, as if it were a soft robot paused mid-motion.

Color choice finishes the idea. Instead of neon or hyper-contrast, the palette leans into mineral purples, bruised pinks, sheer greys, and soft lilac washes — a mood that atmos Pink elevates into something stylish rather than cute. The resulting atmosphere is otherworldly but wearable, directional but familiar, and rooted in the soft-tech aesthetic spreading across Asian and global streetwear.

lang

What makes the “Octo” edition compelling is the way each partner contributes something readable.

ASICS brings the core: the stability frame, the midsole geometry, the GEL cushioning that runs under the heel and forefoot, and the asymmetric layering strategy that defines the 1130 lineage. That base is still visible, but OJOS and atmos Pink stretch it into new sensorial directions.

OJOS, known for sculptural eyewear and unexpected accessory shapes, injects that tactile, rounded mindset. Their influence appears in the bulbous lines, the softness of transition points, and the creature-adjacent dimensionality. They help the shoe behave like a living object rather than a retro runner.

atmos Pink inserts tone. Their experience tailoring streetwear for a femme-forward lifestyle gives the palette coherence and sophistication. The pinks aren’t stereotypical; they are layered like cosmetics, softly muted rather than bright. Their sense of color is the emotional glue.

Together, the trio avoids the trap of three-brand dilution. Instead, the identities stack into something with clarity: a shoe that looks like it could only come from this exact partnership.

material

Much of the success lies in the materials. The GEL-1130 RE already features a mixed upper, but “Octo” introduces more tactility. Airy mesh sits beneath semi-transparent panels, allowing light to leak through and giving the upper a sense of movement. Some overlay pieces have a curved reflective trim, offering a flicker of shine at night. Soft heel padding builds a cocoon-like interior feel, and the tongue carries a subtle sculptural bulge — another OJOS signature.

Even the lacing system carries the narrative. The loops are arranged like tendons across the upper, not loud but rhythmically placed. When tied, the laces create a gathered effect at the throat, reinforcing the biomorphic architecture.

The midsole stays close to ASICS’ engineering, but the outsole has a unique marbled finish. Unlike standard color blocking, it looks poured, almost fluid, referencing the motion of water and the idea of octopus movement. Nothing on the shoe feels accidental; nothing is decorative without purpose.

canvas

In a sneaker landscape that leans heavily on chunky runners, archival revivals, and maximalist comfort, the GEL-1130 RE hits a sweet spot: retro enough to feel familiar, technical enough to feel contemporary, and materially flexible enough to accommodate experimental storytelling. That combination makes it an ideal platform for collaborations that want to stretch form without losing wearability.

For “Octo,” the RE tooling provides the perfect engineering scaffolding. Its multi-layer construction allows for dramatic linework, while its stability roots keep the silhouette grounded in reality. The sneaker is not costume; it is function sculpted into fantasy.

culture

The timing of “Octo” aligns with a broader fashion shift into soft futurism. Brands like ROA, Oakley Factory Team, and ASICS itself have shaped an appetite for gear-coded, creature-coded footwear — pieces that feel alive, animated, or cyber-organic. This shoe speaks directly to that niche while still appealing to the everyday lifestyle runner crowd.

atmos Pink’s involvement further signals a target audience that cares about style and attitude as much as heritage. OJOS’ presence adds subcultural polish, drawing in designer-eyewear collectors and fans of the brand’s sculptural experiments. The union feels like a community cross-pollination rather than a hype-driven drop.

show

“Octo” excels because it forms a cohesive world. You understand its mood instantly: not aggressive, not cute, not nostalgic, but soft-futuristic, feminine-coded without stereotype, creature-like without costume. It is a shoe that seems to breathe, shimmer, and flex, visually speaking, even while sitting on the shelf.

It also represents the best kind of modern sneaker collaboration — one where every contributor actually contributes. No one is overshadowed, and no one is drowned out. The effect is quietly striking, unquestionably contemporary, and deeply intentional.

fin

The OJOS x atmos Pink x ASICS GEL-1130 RE “Octo” is not just another three-brand moment. It’s a creative fusion that elevates the GEL-1130 RE silhouette into a more sculptural, more sensorial, more emotionally charged form. Its palette is nuanced, its textures rich, its geometry expressive, and its attitude unmistakably forward-looking. It is not about trend; it is about texture, movement, creatureliness, and soft power.

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