Dream Team: Onitsuka Tiger X Valentino
Fashion month can always be counted on to deliver some major surprises (Dries Van Noten and Christian Lacroix! J.Lo at Versace!), but in a move that probably no one saw coming, Onitsuka Tiger announced yesterday that it is teaming up with Maison Valentino on a capsule of limited edition sneakers. Revealed at the Italian house’s Fall 2020 menswear show, the unexpected partnership comes after Onitsuka Tiger's surprise collaboration with Givenchy last year, and sees creative director of Pierpaolo Piccioli put his spin on the iconic Mexico 66 SD shoes.
One of the Japanese brand’s most renowned creations (worn by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, no less) the sneakers made its debut in the lead-up to the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico (hence the name), and quickly gained popularity for its lightweight, ergonomic, and versatile design. More than half a century later, Piccioli reimagines the shoes in four eye-catching shades – fluorescent yellow, hot pink, neon orange, and white – as a nod to the importance of colour in the language of Valentino. The dramatic ‘V’ emblem of the Italian fashion house is hand-printed over the signature Tiger stripes in black, while the special co-branded logo appears on the tongue and inside. Boasting superior cushioning in the midsole and a slip-resistant outsole, this new model is sure to delight trendsetters, sneakerheads, and athletes alike.
Set to launch in the summer of 2020, the collection will available in select Valentino boutiques around the world and on valentino.com. An edition in the Japanese brand’s emblematic tricolour tones of white, red, and blue will also be available at select Onitsuka Tiger stores and online at onitsukatiger.com.
