Photo courtesy of Onitsuka Tiger
For Milan Fashion Week 2024, Onitsuka Tiger unveils its new Autumn/Winter collection that pays homage to its sport-inspired history and its impact in the Japanese fashion scene
Amidst fashion capitals like Milan, Paris, and New York, locations in Asia are often overlooked when discussing the most fashionable cities in the world. Between them, Tokyo is considered as one of the most fashion-forward places in the continent, with a distinct style that is unique even among other neighboring cities.
Japanese style in itself has captured the heart of a global audience, often for its very extreme and avant-garde styling that has become the standard for every person, with grandmothers donning Americana-inspired denim outfits or salarymen with oversized, boxy suits being a common sight amidst the Tokyo metropolis. Credited for being among the pioneers of Japanese style, Onitsuka Tiger has been a staple in contemporary fashion since its founding in 1949. The “tiger stripes” of the brand’s Mexico 66 model had been adopted from people in different subcultures, from rappers in the hip-hop scene, to the athletes that the shoe was originally made for.
In celebration of their heritage and impact in Japan’s fashion scene, Onitsuka Tiger debuted their new collection on the runways of Milan Fashion Week 2024. This Autumn/Winter release was a commemoration of their 75th anniversary, unveiling more elevated silhouettes that still maintained the house’s sport-inspired identity.
Titled “Urban Winter”, the collection draws its influences from Tokyo’s winter landscape. Each article of clothing is also given a “soaked” coating that calls back toward the sudden thunderstorms that occur in Japan during this period. Throughout each look, Onitsuka Tiger’s recognizable yellow finish is contrasted against muted tones of gray, black, and beige, a color palette reminiscent of the cityscape’s appearance.
The 49-piece collection mainly featured a number of outerwear that reflected the cold weather conditions of the region. Coats, jackets, and peacoats are differentiated by wider shoulders that narrow down toward the waist, with tailoring details that weave tube padding and ribbing techniques as well.
For bottoms, manipulation of proportions served as one of its main themes. This included wide pants that were exceedingly long in length, allowing for only a small portion of footwear to peak out beneath its cuffs. Chinos in a 5-pocket style were also unveiled, revealing more functional elements to each style. For women, flowy, micro skirts and silk panel dresses were draped against the brand’s signature shoe, the Mexico 66, that have been updated in new colorways and special versions for its 75th anniversary. To round out the Autumn/Winter collection, Onitsuka Tiger debuted its newest form of footwear, a pair of hybrid shoes that combined rubber sole material into its upper, and a pair of trekking boots that bridge the gap between form and function.
To view the new Autumn/Winter collection and the rest of Onitsuka Tiger’s catalogue of footwear and apparel, visit their website and their social media channels on Instagram and Facebook.
