PHOTO COURTESY OF ONITSUKA TIGER
Mention Onitsuka Tiger, and the iconic MEXICO 66 is probably the first sneaker that comes to mind. This season, though, the Japanese label is charting a different course. While much of sneaker culture has spent recent years chasing chunkier silhouettes, the TRAIRINA heads in the opposite direction.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ONITSUKA TIGER
The new style leans sleek, sitting somewhere between a driving shoe and traditional trainer. Sheep leather meets softly brushed suede across the upper. Onitsuka Tiger’s signature side stripes are stitched in tonally, keeping the logo present without letting it dominate.
Underneath, the design borrows more from motorsport and wrestling footwear than from running shoes. A low-cut collar and an outsole that wraps up and around the heel flap reinforce that stripped-back, purposeful feel. Comfort also remains central to the TRAIRINA. Padding around the collar keeps the heel secure, while an OrthoLite sockliner adds cushioning to every step.
The shoe arrives in three colourways: a monochrome Black, a tonal Brown and a Birch/Camel beige combination that leans hardest into the suede’s texture. Each pair also includes a matching set of satin-finish spare laces. That way, it can shift between casual and slightly dressed-up to suit your OOTD.
Retailing at SGD260, the TRAIRINA is available at Onitsuka Tiger stores and online. It’s a small but considered release, and makes a compelling case for going lean when everyone else is going loud.
