MINI Gets its Kicks with a Tiger

Paul Aug 30th, 2007 Link

Nice to see Onitsuka Tiger on board! Lets hope these limit editions make it to US shores.

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matt Aug 30th, 2007 Link

i want.

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Jon Aug 30th, 2007 Link

These will probably cost a lot more than a similar-quality shoe of this type. I do think they’re great, but I am very curious to see how much of a premium these will go for…

Any idea on pricing?

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Douglas Aug 30th, 2007 Link

I am surprised they didn’t go for the British make Gola, even though shoes of this type are all made in China, or Viet Nam, etc.

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Seth L Aug 30th, 2007 Link

I have an old pair of sketchers that look just like these.

Crocs are the ultimate road trip shoe anyway ; )

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nervous Aug 30th, 2007 Link

That Green/Cream wouldn’t be a flat BRG, would it?

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Edge Aug 30th, 2007 Link

What, no blue color combo? :(

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O(=^=)OCapn Aug 30th, 2007 Link

What happened to Puma being the official shoe?

The MINI Puma Collaboration MF 2003

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Jay Aug 30th, 2007 Link

I always thought that Ben Sherman would be a good brand to team up with.

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gmini Aug 30th, 2007 Link

yeah!

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GregW Aug 30th, 2007 Link

I swear by Asics Tiger running shoes. I find they are the best for me and I have never had a dud pair. I am surprised that BMW/MINI do not have an alliance with German Adidas (Adolph “Adi” Dassler is a native german and his brother formed Puma after a family split).

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Cj Aug 30th, 2007 Link

pretty nice. MINI should produce a version of my favorite and yours- the birkenstock.

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RB Aug 30th, 2007 Link

Dullsville! Maybe they should seek out Simple, Oakley, Adidas, Sparco, Simpson, Alpine Stars, Piloti…. Hell even Bell could do a better job that that. I mean is it going to have a MINI logo? They just look like Asics, boring ones at that. Add some double bonnet stripes something, checks, a bull dog?

Crikey, anyone can custom design a pair of Nikes at their website better than those and have them shipped in 5 days.

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Gabe Aug 30th, 2007 Link

…and if they had any of the things you metioned I steer far away from ever buying a pair.

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RB Aug 30th, 2007 Link

I’m sure you wouldn’t Gabe, I’m sure you wouldn’t. Seems you like that I’m too hip to bother with logos look [mini motion] and I like to logo up stuff or at least stick the MINI logo or name on the bottom. For me unless it’s marked in someway that says it’s a MINI product why bother paying the extra for them, just buy Asics. Kinda like buying a MINI t-shirt with no logo, car or name, what’s the point? So you don’t wear Nikes, Pumas or anything marked? I have a pair of Puma Ferrari shoes, love them. They have the Scuderia logo on the heal, all red, So kool. But then I like eggs.

I’d like to hear what you think on this issue as a design director. I never reached that height as I was only a lowly graphic designer. A lower life form to be sure. I picture you as sort of a Behar man. ;-)

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jon Aug 30th, 2007 Link

I always wanted a pair of tigers, I’ll pick these up for sure

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Shamus Aug 31st, 2007 Link

I think they’re doing a fine job of staying true to the Tiger look without going off the deep end. It would be all too easy to simply tack on a few MINI’isms and call it a day. What’s harder is to make a cohesive design incorporating MINI brand-identifiers which still look cool.

The subtle Punch-Carbon embossing, Chocolate Brown color, silver metal Headlamp eyelets, all hint towards MINI without hitting you over the head with it. I could wear these out to any non-MINI event and none would be the wiser, however, for those of us in the know…

…and I’m not even a graphic designer

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>KârK Aug 31st, 2007 Link

You’ve probably already seen this:

http://www.mini.com/com/en/onitsukatiger/index.jsp

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jd7 Aug 31st, 2007 Link

Tigers? And here I thought Kill Bill killed these shoes a few years ago. I fear MINI is not keeping up. And Cj… Birkenstocks? Are you kidding me?

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RB Aug 31st, 2007 Link

>KarK,

I had not seen that! Thanks for the link.

Now that’s better but the colours suck. At least it has a MINI logo on it. The metal eyelet-headlight stuff is BS the door panel thread is silly and the grille stuff is so minimal it’s kinda silly also. So I guess Gabe won’t be buying these as they have a “LOGO” on them? ;-)

To each his own I say. If ya love them buy them. Personally as someone said above, seems out dated but maybe it’s supposed to be “Old School”.

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RB Aug 31st, 2007 Link

Meant to write “tread”

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matt Aug 31st, 2007 Link

Oakley, Red Puma Ferrari, Simpson, Alpine Stars, Piloti. RB, you’ve just demonstrated your poor taste. you’re not a designer, are you?

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RB Aug 31st, 2007 Link

Matt, as I said above to each his own.

I thought this was supposed to be a fun discussion so if I somehow tweaked anyones ego, I apologize. Also, I did miss the link to the shoe design so some of my ravings were wrong, some.

Yes I do own many of those brands above and I am a designer as I’m sure you know. Most of those shoes are from my off road driving days, what else would I wear? I think the Ferrari Puma’s are spot on but I only wear them on track days and such. I stopped coming here for a long time as it seemed many got to serious about these things. I’m just having fun with a silly subject and never intended to upset anyone. They’re just shoes guy, just shoes.

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matt Aug 31st, 2007 Link

the merits of the design were challenged by you and i’m taking you to task on it. that you cite the Ferrari Pumas as “spot on” design demonstrates poor taste on your part, is evidence of a systemic problem in your critique of the tiger shoe, and discredits you.

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Gabe Aug 31st, 2007 Link

I feel a lock down coming…

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RB Aug 31st, 2007 Link

Wow! Matt I’m kinda shocked. I was just having some fun with Gabe and others as to how I felt about these “SHOES”. Not sure how my opinion discredits my design abilities. Debate me on the design, debate me on my choice to like or dislike, make fun of that choice, OK but to say my opinion discredits me? I put in my time, 30 years, in many a fine agency and did some work I’m proud of, I’m set. I may not be a Charles Anderson or a Joe Duffy or even a Gabe Bridger but I am a fine middle ground designer. Glad to send proofs.

I do love those Pumas though, garish as they are, they’re just so Euro.

No lock down needed Gabe, I’m out.

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