East Meets West

For Autumn/Winter 2021, Onitsuka Tiger presented a collection that combines minimalist design elements with a gorpcore sensibility. We speak to creative director Andrea Pompilio to discuss his artistic take on fusing function and fashion.

- IAN LOH

This is the first time OT showed in Milan. How much of the “East Meets West” concept do you apply to your designs?

The concept of “East meets West” is definitely very present, but it is very difficult for me to say what is the percentage of East and what of West because I have always been very inspired by the East and therefore in all these years, I have absorbed the influences of the Asian world that have become an integral part of my personality combined with my Italian origins. For me, this mix of cultures is an automatic and extremely instinctive process.

What are the main inspirations behind the collection this season?

The inspiration of this collection comes from the peaks of the Himalayas and that is why we find different connections with the world of trekking. A natural and uncontaminated place where one can take a walk that make us somehow find ourselves.

The collection feels very rooted in functionality. How did that idea come about?

Functionality is in Onitsuka Tiger’s DNA. Everything has always been based on the concept of functionality and comfort combined with design. Each collection, both in clothing and shoes, must express this concept.