The Carnan Asics Gel-Cumulus 16 is the collaboration nobody saw coming at the tail end of summer, and it may be the boldest colourway either brand has put their name to all year. Founded in 2018 by Paolo Carneiro and Breno Fernandes, Sneaker Freaker notes that Carnan has built a reputation as one of the biggest names in Brazilian streetwear, regularly partnering with major labels including Clarks, Umbro and Veja. Colour is where they live, and on this second link-up with Asics, they have gone straight for the deep end.
From ‘Path’ to purple: the Carnan Asics Gel-Cumulus 16 story so far
The two brands first came together in 2024 for a project called ‘Path’, which paired a multi-piece apparel capsule with a GEL-QUANTUM 360. That debut set the tone: considered colourwork, a full wardrobe built around the shoe, and a clear identity. The follow-up, now officially titled ‘Path II’, carries the same ambition but cranks the palette considerably further.
Where ‘Path’ laid groundwork, the Carnan Asics Gel-Cumulus 16 lands with a statement. The upper pairs mesh and suede in an all-consuming deep purple, the kind of shade that does not hedge. Teal ribbons cut across the uppers, and the Asics logo on the tongue picks up the same teal, providing just enough contrast to keep the eye moving. Below all of that, the sole arrives in an earthy charcoal black, grounding the whole build. It is a well-edited combination: nothing on the shoe fights itself.
A full kit, not just a trainer
Carnan’s approach has always been to build around the shoe rather than simply stamp a logo on one, and ‘Path II’ is no different. The apparel drop that accompanies the Carnan Asics Gel-Cumulus 16 includes a coaches jacket in the same deep purple as the upper, trousers in the charcoal of the sole, a white tee carrying a large purple Asics logo alongside Carnan branding, and a purple ballcap to close the loop. Each piece maps directly back to the shoe, so the collection reads as a coherent kit rather than an afterthought. For anyone who wants to commit to the colourway from the ground up, the option is there.
The colour logic fits neatly with how Carnan works. Their collections typically anchor around a single distinct, rich shade: burnt orange, mossy greens, and now a purple that sits firmly in royal territory. There is no ambiguity about the direction, which is arguably the point.
When and where to get it
According to KicksUnderCost, the drop is phased. Brazil gets first access on 19 August 2026 via Carnan’s own channels and Asics Brazil, with the global release following on 20 August 2026 through select retailers. Pricing is set at $200.
Asics has moved with real momentum through 2026, working across a wide range of collaborators from Thom Browne to Studio Nicholson. The Carnan partnership adds a different dimension to that run, bringing a distinctly Brazilian streetwear sensibility to the roster. With ‘Path II’ dropping next month and the suggestion from both camps that more is in the pipeline, the August release is the one to watch before the year turns.
