Iconic Japanese shoe company Onitsuka Tiger (aka ASICS) is know worldwide for athletic performance. Like other shoe companies, they also produce fashionable sneakers. Onitsuka Tiger sneakers are iconicly cool since they’re classic, but their collaboration with Japanese art and culture-inspired designer tokidoki takes things in a whole other direction.
tokidoki is a line of cute and colorful products from Italian designer Simone Legno. His world of delight has combined with the classic cool of Onitsuka Tiger. The official site says it best:
The partnership with Onitsuka Tiger brings together two unique facets of Japanese culture. Onitsuka Tiger’s strong history of creating outstanding athletic products married with tokidoki’s modern interpretation of Japanese art creates the perfect blend of function and fashion.
There are currently four styles of tokidoki + Onitsuka sneakers (2 unisex and 2 women’s). Besides being extremely colorful and vibrant, the kicks are splashed with designs and decore all over. Perhaps the coolest part about the sneakers is the sole though. The outsole (bottom of the shoe) sports designs laid behind clear rubber and the insole is decorated as well. The attention to detail on the tokidoki + Onitsuka Tiger line is really impressive.
I saw all of these at an Onitsuka Tiger store in Korea actually and really wanted to cop a pair. At $120 (for lows) and $130 (for highs) though, I couldn’t bring myself to get some. And this is coming from a guy who drops $100-plus on AF1s…so I guess I have no excuse. Shame shame. I want a white/black/yellow pair now more than ever.
The sneakers hit shelves June 1st this past summer.
By windstar!~ on October 9, 2008 at 5:51 am
Being a big tokidoki fan, I often check their website for updates, and I was blown away to see the new collab between Onitsuka Tiger. I remember given a pair of tigers a few years back and I loved it and wore it wherever I went.
It’s cool to see how they created such a cute tiger character. I’d be cool if they include the tiger in prints for other items such as bags etc. I’ll be all over it if it was. (Maybe I could get a fake one somewhere?) :P
By Shay on October 9, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Hi windstar!~ and thanks for stopping by. I love Japanimusic =). Yeah the tokidoki + Onitsuka Tiger team up is brilliant. It’s two of the best design worlds put together, in the form of a sneaker :P
It’s extra special if you’re already a fan of tokidoki and Onitsuka, like yourself. They essentially applied tokidoki style to an Onitsuka Tiger shoe, so I HOPE they go they other way and put Onitsuka style on tokidoki bags & accessoriess :)
By Mari on February 24, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Awesome. Nice to know that they have tokidoki and these Onitsuka’s in Korea! Hope they other japanese brands because I’m going to S. Korea soon! :D :D yey yey happy happy….but i can’t wait until I go to korea..so I’ll just spend some $$ on these here :P shame on me too..
By tyra saja on April 2, 2011 at 9:58 am
adore:)
By tyra saja on April 2, 2011 at 10:01 am
cannot wait :)