Versace just made the season’s it-trainer with Onitsuka Tiger 

When it comes to classic sportswear silhouettes, few rival the cult appeal of Onitsuka Tiger’s Tai-Chi trainer. Immortalised on screen by Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, the lightweight martial-arts shoe has long been an icon of cool. Now, under the creative eye of Dario Vitale, Versace is giving the sneaker an Italian makeover as part of his Spring/Summer 2026 debut.

The collaboration, unveiled in Milan, fuses Japanese heritage with Italian glamour. Each pair is constructed from premium Italian leathers, blending the streamlined shape of the Tai-Chi with unmistakable Versace detailing. The brand’s Medusa emblem sits proudly alongside Onitsuka Tiger’s signature stripes. A symbolic merging of two design languages that rarely meet.

Elsewhere, subtle nods to Gianni Versace’s punk-inflected legacy appear. Studding on the tongue adds a metallic edge to the sporty silhouette. Specially developed washes give the trainers a buffed, lived-in patina – a deliberate callback to the vintage aesthetics of the 1980s, which Vitale cites as a central inspiration for the collection.

The result is a sneaker that feels both archival and futuristic, equally suited for the runway or the street. It’s a meeting of East and West, restraint and excess – exactly the kind of cultural dialogue fashion thrives on.

The Versace Onitsuka Tiger Tai-Chis will be available in select boutiques and online this spring, with limited runs expected to heighten demand among collectors. For fans of either house, or simply lovers of elevated sportswear, this is a collaboration is one not to miss.