For Running and Life-style Shoes New Fabric Developed that Combines Unique Visual Effects and Comfortable Fit

ASICS Corporation (Headquarters: Kobe, Japan; President and CEO: Motoi OYAMA, ‘ASICS’ below) and Toray Industries, Inc.(Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President Akihiro NIKKAKU, ‘Toray’ below) announce the joint development of a new textile, Chameleoid Mesh. The new fabric offers a variety of features, including color change with the angle of viewing.

ASICS will use the material in its new running shoe, the GEL-QUANTUM 360 CM, which will debut in early June, as well as in ASICS Tiger shoes, made with the sporting lifestyle market in mind. Other competition shoes may also feature Chemeleoid Mesh.

Chameleoid Mesh is the joint research and development by the ASICS Institute of Sports Science and the Toray Advanced Textiles Development Center. It is a new material combining original visual effects and high performance. The fabric features a visual element of changing colors depending on the angle of viewing, and also controls the degree of elasticity both along the length and breadth of the foot. The structure allows for better flexibility lengthwise and follows the foot’s form as the foot bends and changes, delivering a comfortable fit. The fabric also features excellent memory against continuous changes in form.

Developer comments

ASICS Institute of Sport Science, Footwear Function Research Department

Footwear Function Development Team Manager Kenta MORIYASU

“We are happy to have developed a new textile with colors that change depending on the angle of viewing, and that we can offer this product to our customers. By analyzing in detail the changes in running and walking foot form, we were able to construct an upper and develop materials that follow the form of the foot. The textile offers excellent breathability and a comfortable fit, and we think our customers will consider it fashionable as well.”

Toray Advanced Textiles Development Center, Satoshi NARUKO

“Using Toray’s high-performance fibers and textile design technology, we were able to develop a material with a special design and that offers a high degree of functionality. Because of the sophisticated production technology required, we worked together with a domestic assembly plant with excellent technical capacity. The material is completely Made in Japan, from start to finish.”

Key features of Chameleoid Mesh

1. Color change

By using textile technology that can control the placement of threads on a microscopic level, a spatial structure featuring changing colors depending on the angle of view and movement was created, allowing a multitude of color combinations.

2. Excellent breathability

The shoe’s mesh structure offers excellent breathability, allowing heat and moisture inside the shoe to be released.

3. Light weight

Using extremely durable textiles allows the amount of fibers used to be minimized. Light weight as well as the strength needed are delivered.

4. High restorability (low energy loss)

The mesh is partly made of a highly-elastic fabric that delivers high restorability while also preventing lateral motion during running or walking.

5. Comfortable fit

By controlling mesh elasticity in both longitudinal and width directions, the shoe is faithful to changes in foot form, allowing a comfortable fit.

6. Made in Japan

Specialized technology was used to develop the shoe, and all phases of production—from threads used to dyeing and production—take place in Japan.

For further information:

ASICS Corporation; http://www.asics.com

Toray Industries, Inc.; http://www.toray.com/