For 75 years now, Onitsuka Tiger has reshaped the world’s idea of sport shoes, showing us that they can be both functional and fashionable, and that they can fit right into our everyday wardrobes. Now, the Japanese fashion brand is doing the same with dress shoes through its high-end line, The Onitsuka.
The Onitsuka first launched in Tokyo in 2019 and steadily expanded around the world, with flagship stores in New York and London. The Japanese brand opened its first store in Singapore, located at Ion Orchard, in early 2023. Call it perfect timing: in recent years, with the rise of the preppy fashion trend and all the talk of quiet luxury, the fashion world has embraced sophisticated and formal styles, which, of course, is reflected in footwear.
The Onitsuka offers plenty of options for those who are looking to expand their shoe collection beyond cool sneakers. The label draws upon traditional shoe styles—think loafers, monk straps, and lace-up brogues—but reinterprets them with a fresh, modern slant. Case in point: The Onitsuka’s Fall/ Winter 2024 collection.
This season, the label offers a crafty take on its leather shoes, featuring the unexpected use of tweed. The fabric is woven from both fine and thick yarns, resulting in a striking, three- dimensional texture that stands out across the shoes. For its tweed collection, The Onitsuka has refreshed three styles in particular: the Bit Loafer, which is named for its horsebit detail and features moccasin stitching; the Brogue, distinguished by its perforated design and wingtip details; and the Blucher Lo, modelled after Onitsuka Tiger’s first basketball shoes from 1950.
As elegant as they are, The Onitsuka shoes promise all the functionality and technical performance of Onitsuka Tiger’s sporty offerings. For example, both the Brogue and the Blucher Lo are marked by The Onitsuka’s signature ‘Shark’ soles; the thick rubber sponge soles, which come with jagged edges, give the shoes a great grip when worn, and ensure their durability. Throughout the collection, the shoes are fitted with Onitsuka Tiger’s trademarked αGEL Foam soles, which offer increased shock absorbency and, by extension, comfort. Speaking of comfort, The Onitsuka shoes also come with removable moulded insoles made from foam, which provide arch support and cushioning.
Aside from design, the craftsmanship of the shoes is also noteworthy. The Onitsuka’s offerings are handcrafted by Japanese artisans, reflecting the brand’s commitment to exceptional quality. The shoes are constructed with leather sourced from Himeji, a town near Kobe that has a reputation for producing some of the finest leathers in Japan—which are also sought after by French luxury brands.
For its Fall/Winter 2024 collection, The Onitsuka also worked with craftspeople in Iwate Prefecture to produce the tweed used throughout its shoes. Clearly, these are no ordinary dress shoes. Shop the collection at The Onitsuka store at ION Orchard and on onitsukatiger.com.
This story originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of GRAZIA Singapore.
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