Onitsuka Tiger looks into launching India manufacturing unit

Japanese sportswear brand Onitsuka Tiger is exploring the possibility of setting up a manufacturing facility in India as it focuses on retail growth in the South Asian region. 

“Establishing a manufacturing base in India is a strategic move that can significantly accelerate Onitsuka Tiger’s growth in the region,” a source close to the matter told Mint. “India’s market potential for premium footwear and apparel is growing rapidly and setting up local manufacturing will add value.”

The brand’s president Ryoji Shoda is confident that the rising demand for premium and global fashion in India will continue, referring to the country as “crucial” to the brand’s wider growth, Apparel Resources reported. Along with exploring local production for its Indian operations, Onitsuka Tiger is also looking into exporting products manufactured in India to other countries to retail and aims to expand its operations in the country by 2028. 

In India, Onitsuka Tiger has a network of nine retail outlets in cities including Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, and Hyderabad, according to the brand’s website. In the coming year, the brand intends to open two additional stores in the country. 

Onitsuka Tiger is a subsidiary of sportswear and footwear business Asics Corporation. The label is known for its sneakers, which come in a range of colour combinations and feature the label’s graphic logo. The business has expanded its clothing offering to include high fashion and streetwear inspired designs and retails globally.