These sneakers are inspired by an iconic Malaysian snack

KUALA LUMPUR – Having previously released sneakers inspired by some of Malaysia’s most famous cultural icons such as nasi lemak, teh tarik and the Petronas Twin Towers, SneakerLah and Asics have once again put their feet together for a new collaboration.

This time they have paid tribute to one of Malaysia’s most loved snacks: the popular Mamee Monster.

According to a press release, the Asics Skyhand OG Mamee Monster sneaker is a “unique blend of street style, nostalgia and Malaysian culture, all wrapped up in a design inspired by the iconic crispy noodle snack.”

This is the fourth collaboration between SneakerLah, Malaysia’s largest sneaker event, and Asics.

The first collaboration – the nasi lemak-inspired Gel-Kayano 5 OG Nasi Lemak – was released in 2019, followed by another creation in 2020 inspired by the Petronas Twin Towers, known as the Gel-Lyte III Kuala Lumpur Twin Towers. And in 2022, the teh tarik-inspired Gel-Lyte III Teh Tarik sneaker was released.

According to SneakerLah founder Bryan Chin, the shoe’s design was inspired by a fond childhood memory of enjoying Mamee Monster after school.

“As a small child, as a teenager, all the way into adulthood, I think this is the one snack I consistently bought and ate,” he said in an email interview.

“In many ways, this project (and past projects as well) is a selfish attempt to tell stories from my childhood – how a snack (or a dish, or an iconic building) influenced me growing up and the many good memories I have made over the years.”

This nostalgic moment has been artfully translated into the playful design of the sneaker.