From its debut at the 1968 Mexico Olympics to being the ‘it’ sneakers worn by Prince William and Hailey Bieber, we look back at how this footwear from the 75-year-old Japanese brand became such a classic
In the vast world of modern trainers—with its fabric innovations, creative silhouettes and unique colourways—there’s one model that has stood the test of time: Japanese sports footwear brand Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66.
Low-cut, slim-silhouetted and flexible, it’s a practical footwear option that was originally designed in 1966 as a running shoe, but has since been popularised through appearances in major movies and retains its iconic status to this day.
The Onitsuka Tiger brand turns 75 this year, and to celebrate this milestone, we look back at the origins of its most famous footwear and why it’s been revived in fashion today.
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Brand origins
Onitsuka Tiger was founded in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka who first began designing basketball shoes, then pivoted to developing long-distance running shoes with Japanese marathon runner Toru Terasawa in 1953.
In 1957, Onitsuka convinced Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila—who used to run barefoot—to wear his shoes, and the designer eventually launched The Magic Runner shoe in 1959, which would help prevent blisters and provide comfort over long distances.
This attracted the attention of Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, which was then known as Blue Ribbon Sports. He had just completed his MBA at Stanford University where he’d written his thesis on the marketing of athletic shoes, and on a trip to Japan after his graduation, he came across these Tiger shoes, and secured their distribution rights in the United States.
