The new collaboration between Onitsuka Tiger and Versace is here Dario Vitale strikes again
Today, the collaboration between Onitsuka Tiger and Versace has been officially launched. This partnership celebrates the meeting of form and force, between the dynamism of the body in motion and the opulence of Italian fashion. This capsule is part of Versace’s SS26 collection, the first (and last) designed by Dario Vitale, which has received great success among editors and critics. The campaign for the release, shot by Frank Lebon, aims to capture a sense of dynamism, physical power, and a celebration of the body in motion, with references to the duality between mind and body that lies at the heart of Onitsuka Tiger’s athletic footwear.
The main model is the TAI-CHI Sakura, a reinterpretation of the classic tai-chi trainers from the Japanese brand. Produced at Onitsuka Tiger’s factory in Sanin, in Tottori Prefecture, the sneaker is born from the union of the meticulous precision typical of Japan and Versace’s bold sense of color and style. The upper has been treated with washing and buffing processes that give it a soft, lived-in vintage effect, as if the shoe already carries its own story.
The iconic Onitsuka Tiger side stripes have been reinforced with double stitching for a more decisive and sartorial look, while the tongue features Versace’s Medusa symbol, applied with metal studs that add a strong and instantly recognizable character. Alongside the sneakers, the collection also includes elegant hybrid loafers, entirely produced in Italy. These models combine the typical comfort of a sneaker with the refinement of a formal shoe, demonstrating how sportswear and high fashion can merge in a natural and sophisticated way.
