Contemporary and colourful: Introducing Onitsuka Tiger’s new line of lightweight platform shoes

Like walking on air.

At Fashion Journal, we’ve been long-term fans of the Japanese brand Onitsuka Tiger, with the Mexico 66 style holding a special place in our hearts (and for good reason). Founded in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka, the eponymous brand, which was a precursor to Asics, is known for its contemporary ready-to-wear and contemporary athletic footwear. 

The OTIGER collection, comprised of the Otiger Court shoe and the Otiger Strap sandal, is the latest release from the brand. A little more restrained than past styles, the Otiger Court shoe features a minimalistic upper design made of cactus-derived material. More akin to a classic sneaker, fans of the brand can expect some serious wearability and longevity from the style. The Otiger Court shoe – and its sandal counterpart – are also completely monochromatic, from upper and stitching to laces and chunky soles.

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That said, it’s not without the classic Onitsuka Tiger flair. A seemingly inflated version of the classic style, it’s lightweight in both appearance and mass. It’s almost cartoon-like in appearance, a point exacerbated by the singular approach to colour used across each. The sole is oversized without looking ridiculous, made from ultra-cushiony FF BLAST foam material.

Beyond the sneakers, the range also encompasses a bubble-like sandal that we can see pairing well with a cute ankle sock and midi-skirt before we hit the warmer months. As the puffy sandal slowly becomes a staple in the wardrobe of the fashion set, the Otiger Strap sandal’s voluminous design will have you walking on air. Its pillow-like straps ensure all-day comfort, while the oversized platform provides extra height without the discomfort of a classic heel

As for colourways, the brand has been quite clever. It’s played with the forest green that was surged to popularity by Bottega Veneta in 2021 and dominated the fashion landscape since. It’s stuck to classics (black, white) for wearability while the hero of the range seems to be an orange, which plays homage to the brand’s much-loved Mexico 66 style. 

Always referencing its own archives, each style from Onitsuka’s OTIGER collection features X cross-stitching on the heel, inspired again by the iconic detail of Onitsuka Tiger’s classic Mexico 66. Each style is also made from recycled materials, including a leather lining made from 24% recycled PET bottle material and an outsole rubber blended with 9% EVA waste material.

Browse the OTIGER collection here.