Year of the zodiac
MANILA, Philippines - Japanese cosmology and astrology take center stage as one of the world’s most enduring sporting brands marks its auspicious 60th birthday with a zodiac-themed collection aptly called the Cycle of Life.
Onitsuka Tiger, whose products have been featured in Hollywood blockbusters such as Uma Thurman’s iconic yellow shoes in Kill Bill 1 and Shia LeBeouf’s running shoes in Disturbia, celebrates its anniversary in true Japanese style. Taking its cue from the revered age of 60 that is considered a major cultural event in Japan, the new collection incorporates the 12 zodiac sign graphics into its new footwear and apparel line.
Cycle of Life
According to the Japanese zodiac calendar, a 60-year cycle of life is based on a combination of 12 animals and five earth elements. The first six animals on the calendar (rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon and snake) constitute the spring-summer 2009 collection while the second set of animals (horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar) are part of the autumn-winter 2009 collection.
“Turning 60 in Japan is not just another birthday; it’s laden with symbolism. People who reach this special milestone are honored for having lived a complete 60-year cycle,” said Anil Buxani, managing director of Sonia Trading, the brand’s sole local distributor since the ’70s. “As our way of celebrating Onitsuka Tiger’s anniversary, we proudly present the autumn-winter collection at our Greenbelt 5 flagship store.”
The official Philippine launch of the Cycle of Life autumn-winter collection. It also highlights the metamorphosis of Onitsuka Tiger from an athletic to a certified fashion brand in the country.
Among the products launched in the Cycle of Life collection are Zodiac T-shirts, short-sleeved crewneck shirts designed with either a sheep, horse or a monkey by Takeshi Fukui, and top-selling Onitsuka Tiger footwear lines redesigned for the collection namely the Mexico 66 Lauta (horse), Coolidge (sheep) and Lawnship (monkey).
Onitsuka Tiger is located at Greenbelt 5 and will open in Shangri-La Plaza Mall this December.
