Versace and Onitsuka Tiger released the TAI-CHI Sakura sneaker and TAI-CHI Loafer on April 2, 2026, marking the first time Versace has collaborated with a sneaker brand in its history. The Versace Onitsuka Tiger TAI-CHI Sakura sneaker 2026 collection is available now at select Versace flagship stores worldwide and on Versace’s official collection page. Suede colorways start at $750 USD (£550 / €590).
Image: Courtesy of Onitsuka Tiger / ASICS
The launch arrives under new Versace Chief Creative Officer Dario Vitale, who succeeded Donatella Versace after her near-30-year tenure. It signals a shift in the house’s creative vocabulary toward cross-industry partnerships, joining a wave of streetwear trends spring 2026 that blend athletic heritage with luxury craft.
Design: Italian Luxury Meets Japanese Craftsmanship
The TAI-CHI Sakura reworks Onitsuka Tiger’s classic TAI-CHI silhouette into a slim, low-cut vintage profile. Classic Tiger overlays are double-stitched throughout the upper. A golden Medusa emblem sits on the tongue, while the Versace logo is embossed on the heel counter. An Onitsuka Tiger patch sits above the toe box.
Suede versions undergo a specialized washing process for an intentionally aged effect. The sneakers are manufactured at Onitsuka Tiger’s factory in Sanin, Tottori, Japan. According to the Onitsuka Tiger official press release, “The special models embody a meticulous design realized through the fusion of Italian and Japanese craftsmanship.”
The TAI-CHI Loafer takes a penny loafer silhouette and layers it with Tiger overlays, tapping the sneaker-loafer hybrid trend gaining traction this season. Loafer styles are crafted in Italy. This hybrid approach mirrors what we’re seeing across footwear, from the New Balance 9060 Mule Sandal to evolving fall 2026 footwear trends.
Colorways and Price
Confirmed pricing (suede): $750 USD / £550 / €590
- Suede: Blue, green, and brown
- Nappa leather: White, yellow, black, pink, black/brown, brown/white
- Metallic: Silver/gold for men’s and women’s cuts
Nappa leather and metallic pricing has not been confirmed at time of publication.
The breadth of colorways positions the collection for broad appeal. At $750 for suede, the TAI-CHI Sakura sits in the same luxury sneaker collab tier as the Swarovski x Air Jordan 1 High OG and the Fragment Design x Nike Air Liquid Max drops earlier this year.
Campaign Talent
The campaign features a multicultural cast reflecting both brands’ global footprint. Myha’la, star of HBO’s Industry, appears in the metallic silver/gold TAI-CHI Sakura. Paris Opera Ballet principal dancer Guillaume Diop also fronts the campaign, alongside French actor François Civil and Chinese actors Chang Huasen and Yu Shuxin.
The casting approach follows the celebrity-campaign playbook seen in other recent collaborations, including Repetto x Kaia Gerber In Bloom and Madhappy x PUMA Spring 2026.
Context: Dario Vitale’s Versace Debut
The Onitsuka Tiger partnership was first revealed at Vitale’s Spring/Summer 2026 debut show in Milan on September 26, 2025. It was one of several early signals that the new CCO would push Versace beyond its signature maximalist DNA.
Vitale’s approach pairs craft and restraint with the brand’s theatricality. That pivot mirrors what’s happening at other legacy houses: Gucci Fall 2026 under Demna has taken a similarly recalibrated direction. The broader trend of luxury-sportswear crossovers continues to accelerate, with drops like Adidas x Simone Rocha Fall 2026, Birkenstock x Faherty collaboration, and Willy Chavarria x Zara Vatisimo all landing this spring.
Where to Buy
The Versace x Onitsuka Tiger TAI-CHI Sakura sneaker and TAI-CHI Loafer are available now at:
- Select Versace flagship stores worldwide
- Online at versace.com
For more coverage of this season’s biggest footwear collaborations, see our roundup of streetwear trends spring 2026 and the latest fall 2026 footwear trends shaping the market.
