The EX89 sneaker blends the heritage influences of the GEL-EXTREME basketball shoe from 1989 with modern cushioning properties.​ It was originally created by Toshikazu Kayano in the late 1980s as his first design project with ASICS. It's met with a sculpted heel shape to improve underfoot comfort during everyday scenarios.​ The outsole’s pattern is meant to mirror the view of a city from the sky. This functional grip feature was initially inspired by the designer’s first business trip to the United States in 1987.