Versace x Onitsuka sneaker
Versace and Onitsuka Tiger dropped the TAI‑CHI Sakura sneaker, produced in Japan and shown as a new seasonal collaboration in recent product roundups (x.com). The release was highlighted alongside other notable fashion drops this week and positions the pair as a Japan‑made, design‑forward runner in the spring lineup (x.com).
Versace and Onitsuka Tiger have released the TAI-CHI Sakura, a Japan-made sneaker from their spring-summer 2026 collaboration. (wwd.com) The shoe was first shown on September 26, 2025, during Versace’s spring-summer 2026 presentation in Milan, part of the debut collection by Chief Creative Officer Dario Vitale. Onitsuka Tiger said the model is based on its TAI-CHI silhouette and is made at the brand’s factory in Sanin Tottori, Japan, using selected Italian materials. (onitsukatiger.com) Versace’s United States site lists men’s and women’s TAI-CHI Sakura sneakers in suede, nappa and metallic finishes, with sneaker prices starting at $750 and loafers listed at $995. The product pages describe double stitching on the Onitsuka Tiger stripes and Medusa hardware on the tongue. (versace.com) The release lands as luxury labels keep pushing into slimmer, low-profile sneakers after years of bulkier “dad shoe” shapes. PurseBlog described the Onitsuka Tiger link-up as part of a market shift toward sleek, clean silhouettes in 2026. (purseblog.com) For Versace, the shoe also extends the first season under Vitale, whose spring-summer 2026 collection introduced the partnership in Milan. Onitsuka Tiger framed the project as a mix of Italian and Japanese craftsmanship rather than a standard logo swap. (onitsukatiger.com) The sneaker keeps Onitsuka Tiger’s track-and-martial-arts-rooted TAI-CHI base but adds fashion-house detailing, including washed uppers for an aged finish on some versions. Versace’s product pages say suede pairs are treated with a washing process, while metallic and nappa versions are also made in Tottori. (versace.com) The campaign was shot by Frank Lebon, according to WWD and Versace’s campaign page, and the rollout includes both men’s and women’s styles. Versace’s site presents the capsule as a dedicated Onitsuka Tiger x Versace category rather than a one-off single colorway. (wwd.com) (versace.com) The result is a spring 2026 drop that pairs a Japanese-made performance-derived shape with one of Versace’s most recognizable symbols. That combination, more than a runway cameo alone, is what moved the TAI-CHI Sakura into this season’s fashion release roundups. (wwd.com) (hypebeast.com)
