From new versions of the Mexico 66 to the clothes that exude Manga cheekiness, Onitsuka Tiger makes a strong case of how in-between spaces can be lushly stylish.
One look at Onitsuka Tiger’s Fall 2026 collection is enough to see a wardrobe that feels rebelliously too cool for school. Yet beneath its bold, pop-inflected aesthetic lies a more considered foundation: ma, the Japanese concept of meaningful space.
Creative director Andrea Pompilio crafted a collection that saw doll-like schoolgirls, campus-cool skater boys, and quirky lecturers parading on the runway of Via Vigevano 18 during Milan Fashion Week. It brought plenty of youthful attitude to the ASICS-owned brand, all while introducing something far more substantial: the philosophy that style is shaped in the meaningful in-between.
Titled “The Aesthetics of Ma,” the lineup features clothes that aren’t confined to formalwear, casual wear, or sportswear—they move fluidly in the “meaningful space between two elements, whether in space or in time, habit or occasion, the routine and the exceptional.”
“It also embodies a fashion aesthetic that aligns neither with exception nor with habit but exists between the two—shaped by the character and attitude of those who choose and wear the clothes, rather than by occasions,” the brand explained in the show notes.
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On the runway, the looks exuded a vibe that both felt new and unexpected. Manga cheekiness was all over the place—and it wasn’t surprising at all, coming from a Japanese brand defined by deep Japanese heritage, meticulous craftsmanship, and fashion-forward styling.
Opening the collection was a pleated mini paired with a coordinating blazer, styled alongside a pointed, kitten-heeled take on the brand’s iconic Mexico 66 sneakers and ribbed knee-high socks. It set the tone for a 50-look wardrobe that transforms everyday pieces into something distinctly expressive and captivating.
Following look one was a catalog of pieces designed to capture Gen Z’s penchant for mix-and-match dressing. A dress with horizontal bands is worn with an oversized herringbone hoodie, while an apple-green pleated dress is layered with a compact short vest in textured corduroy bonded with boa, complete with oversized pockets.
Elsewhere, a lightweight cotton checked blouse with floral inserts is paired with an ochre-yellow midi skirt made with feather-effect fabric. Romance took shape in the apple-green fleece styled over a candy-pink blouse and matched with a knitted mini skirt.
The campus-cool energy extended to the fuzzy fleeces, double-breasted coats, and blazers worn over striped T-shirts, floral tees, or pastel minis on this kaleidoscopic co-ed edit.
The cheeky color palette also delighted in breaking the rules—apple greens, candy pinks, and ochres that shouldn’t work together and yet somehow did perfectly. Accents like faux fur, bows, contrasting-colored buttons, ruffles, and the house’s iconic Tiger Stripes brought more whimsy to the eye-popping lineup.
What’s an Onitsuka Tiger collection without shoes? Impossible. So naturally, Pompilio brought more attitude to the season in reimagined versions of the house’s signature kicks.
Leading the pack is the Mexico 66 Square—a slim, flat-inspired evolution of the iconic Onitsuka Tiger sneakers in celebration of its 60th anniversary. This model comes in a range of solid colors, as well as animal and floral prints.
The classic sneakers were also given a quirky update in the pointed slingback heels with fold-over flap, belt, and reimagined Onitsuka Tiger Stripes. They blended the house’s sporty heritage with a fashion-forward aesthetic, proving that an icon can evolve while remaining instantly recognizable.
Watch the Onitsuka Tiger Fall 2026 show below:
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