Here is the story of the birth of the Onitsuka Tiger Stripe
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by P. M.
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Their big debut was at the opening ceremony of the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, when the entire Japanese delegation entered the stadium wearing the Mexico Delegation, thus presenting the Onitsuka Tiger Stripes to the world. Who could forget those images? They went viral and surely contributed to the success of a shoe that, almost fifty years later, is still worn by the younger generations.
Yet, despite its widespread adoption, little was known until now about its birth, how did that “lucky” sneaker come into being? The opportunity to reveal its origins comes on its fiftieth anniversary, when, in addition to reissuing the model, the Japanese brand has decided to unveil the background and interesting anecdotes.
- Onitsuka Tiger realized that it was necessary to find a unique and distinctive mark for its products and give it a great value of recognition. The company thus launched an internal competition, encouraging all employees to propose an idea, with over 200 employees participating. Such a high number encouraged a scientific approach: step by step, the developers narrowed down their selection to five models from which the final choice would arise. These entered the design phase, where the real research began. Together with athletes and experts from the University of Kyoto, the brand designers tested the proposals considering a particular characteristic: which design offers the best and tangible performance improvement? The answer fell on the Onitsuka Tiger Stripes.
Their concept involves integrating vertical stripes into the lace design, thus providing more stability to the upper and significant improvements, both in fit and durability over time. Factors that have proven to have a direct impact on athletic performance. This approach not only convinced the Onitsuka Tiger developers but also the researchers and athletes from the university who were involved in the project.
Today, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary, Onitsuka Tiger reissues the Mexico Delegation in the colors of the Japanese flag. The special edition of the model features a sole in a classic vintage white and soft white Onitsuka Tiger Stripes wrapping the red suede. Furthermore, the print on the inner soles, referencing the lanes of the track and the Olympic stadium, forms the number 6, every time both shoes are placed side by side, reflecting the year 66, the year of the Onitsuka Tiger Stripes’ birth. A yellow/black vintage box completes the set, while four other color combinations enrich an evocative collection: white/blue, blue/white, green/white, and black/black.