Kiyosu, Japan, January 27, 2025: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has teamed up with major sporting goods manufacturer ASICS Corporation to produce the SKYHAND™ OG sneakers using leather remnants generated in the steering wheel manufacturing process. These sneakers will be available for purchase from the ASICS online store starting February 1, 2025.

Toyoda Gosei has been pursuing ways to further reduce waste materials by selling various products under the Re-S ethical brand, transforming difficult-to-recycle airbag fabric and steering wheel leather remnants into bags, pen cases, and other products. ASICS has also been using recycled materials in its shoes and sportswear.

The current project is Toyoda Gosei’s second collaboration with ASICS, following the launch of sneakers that use airbag fabric in January 2023. The two companies are cooperating across industry boundaries under a shared philosophy for achieving a sustainable society. To use materials with as little waste as possible, original techniques are incorporated in this project, such as combining small pieces into a patchwork. Steering wheel punching remnants generated at Toyoda Gosei’s plant in Vietnam are used in this project, and ASICS is using these remnants in shoes also manufactured in Vietnam, reducing not only waste but also CO₂ in the transport of the remnants.