Onitsuka Tiger Corsair Vintage

Most people know the 1968 Mexico Olympic games for it’s controversial Black Power victory salute made by 200m runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos – an iconic moment in civil rights and Olympic imagery. However, the games also provided a lesser known event that can now be viewed as a pivotal moment in the trainer/fashion industry, as provided by Japanese brand Onitsuka Tiger.

As any trainer guru will already be aware, Onitsuka Tiger are well recognised for their Mexico 66 trainer, which is based on the ‘LIMBER’ leather shoes delegated to the national Japanese Olympic team in 1966 to use at the pre-olympic trials for the 1968 Olympic Games. The ‘LIMBER’ was the first model to feature parent brand Asics’ iconic stripes on the side of the upper section and provides the design inspiration for all current Mexico 66 models.

Following on from this initial success, in 1972 Finnish long distance runner Lasse Viren won both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter events at the Munich Olympics wearing the Asics’ ‘FABRE’ model.

With this rich sporting history in mind, Onitsuka Tiger stand as one of the most well respected trainer specialists of our generation – their ‘Corsair Vintage’ trainer celebrates the brand’s past, endorsing the 1970s silhouette accompanied by the 1960s signature stripe.

Coming in white, blue, green and yellow the ‘Corsair Vintage’ trainer features simple, understated styling that stays true to the brand’s ethos of supreme comfort through it’s soft cushioned sole. The nylon construction ensures the shoe is extremely light, adding to the soft and comfortable feel.

Although the Onitsuka Tiger brand no longer have their shoes worn by elite athletes, the brand’s retro running aesthetic provides the modern day man with stylish, comfortable and wonderfully simple trainers.