Onitsuka Tiger x Koi Klub X-Caliber Pack

Onitsuka Tiger had a storming 2010, after their Friends and Family exhibition last year which showcasted a host of collaborations which have released over the last 12 months I have seen the brand gaining momentum. This X-Caliber Pack is no exception, bringing the Berlin based Koi Klub founded by young Japanese creative Yoske Nishiumi onto his 4th collaboration with the brand. They have created 2 very distinctive denim X-Calibers, both the colorways I think look great and the materials will evolve with usage most notably the denim which will fray and wear over time. I love the graduation dip dyed laces on the grey pair they really set off the accented pink sole, they will be available from SNS, Wood Wood, Colette from May 28th...

Onitsuka Tiger California Vintage '78

I know the first couple of months of 2011 have been a bit vintage heavy, but to be fair they just don't make em like they used to. Besides these California 78's are real quality and the vintage outsole on these is not overdone. One of things I love about these is the sole. It's often one of the most interesting parts of a trainer yet we never see it, thats why runners like these will always have a place in my heart, check out that grip...

Onitsuka Tiger Brogues

The tendency for sports brands to diversify into sartorial styling is becoming ever more popular these days. The key though is to actually be able to pull it off. I think not straying too far from your comfort zone is paramount and apart from the unnecessary heel branding on these brogues Onitsuka Tiger might have just done it. I'm really interested to see how these will be received, I like them a lot especially the green colorway they are nice and subtle...

Onitsuka Tiger AISEN Mexico 66

The Mexico 66 is one of my favourite and most comfortable trainers. This is a lovely colorway from their AISEN collection for Spring/Summer 2011, the denim and brown work perfectly together, really nice for next summer...

Fashion House Influence

Thanks to Kanye Wests exploits into the game last year, we have seen more and more of the fashion houses entering the industry with designs to lure in the heads. Although the purests don't want to see this happen it was an inevitable step in the industry once we were prepared to queue for hours to pay £150 for a pair of Nikes.

There is a definate upside to this new trend. Now that we have all this money from the top design houses flooding into shoes we are starting to see the knock down effect into the designs at the affordable end of the market. The Mark Ronson collection with Gucci looks to have influenced Onitsuka Tiger this year:


And the louis vuitton Kanye collaboration has inspired countless features in recent designs, below the be-tassled Adidas Nizza and Hanon's Reebok VCMP Stomper


I'm sure we'll see plenty more influences from the high end market, and this is just the beggining and I say spread the wealth...