ASICS x Distance: A Capsule Collection Inspired by Iten

A Celebration of Iten’s Running Spirit

ASICS has joined forces with French running retailer Distance for a capsule collection that pays homage to Iten, the Kenyan town renowned for its extraordinary running community. This marks the first collaboration between the two brands, set to launch on 10 October 2026.

The 16-piece apparel range for men and women spans technical running kits to lifestyle tops and hoodies. Many of the performance styles are reimagined versions of pieces from ASICS’ premium Metarun line. The collection is completed by the new Novablast 6 running shoe, which carries the collaboration’s distinctive colour palette from apparel through to footwear.

Colours of Iten

The design draws deeply on Iten’s landscape: the red earth and expansive sky, as well as the painted facades and textures of local houses, including the Distance store in the town. According to the companies, the brightly coordinated kits and unexpected colour combinations reflect the individual way runners in Iten style their training apparel. The pieces can be worn as complete kits or mixed and matched freely, from training sessions to the moments before and after.

“Running in Iten is inseparable from the place itself, from the red earth and the brightness of the sun to the shared rituals that surround every session,” said Alistair Keys, head of design at ASICS. Keys added that the collection ties in with the company’s purpose of helping more people experience the uplifting impact of movement on the mind, “from world-class athletes to first-time runners.”

A Personal Connection

For Distance co-founder Guillaume Pontier, the project stems from a long personal link to athletics and to Kenya. His father, Jean-François Pontier, spent decades coaching some of France’s leading middle and long distance athletes, and visits to Iten with him introduced Pontier to the town and its running community.

Those relationships later led Distance to open a permanent store in Iten in 2022, set up to make quality running products more accessible to local athletes. Run with local knowledge, the store has since become a meeting point for the community.

“Iten is much more than an inspiration board for us,” said Pontier. “It is a place built on relationships, generosity and a deep, everyday commitment to running.” He described the collection as a way of honouring the details that stayed with the team, from the sunrise runs and the red earth to the colours of the houses and the warmth of the community, and dedicated it to the company’s friends in Iten.

Availability

The ASICS x Distance collection, including the Novablast 6, will be available from 10 October 2026 at Distance stores worldwide, through ASICS’ own online store and at selected retail partners. This collaboration not only celebrates the spirit of Iten but also brings its vibrant colours and community-driven ethos to runners everywhere.