Acclaimed Japanese artist Takashi Murakami recently unveiled a new footwear brand called Ohana Hatake that draws inspiration from his iconic flower motifs.
Murakami is known in the art world for his playful and vibrant style, as well as his ability to bridge the gap between “high art” and “low art.” His works are influenced by Japanese traditional art and pop culture, with smiling flower motifs being a recurring theme in his pieces.
Now, Murakami has employed his creativity to create two models of slides. The first one is Ohana Full-Bloom, which already received limited releases in previous years and features a smiling flower on the strap. It comes in four colorways: raspberry rose, apricot, island green, and blazing yellow.
The second is the Surippa Ohana model, which has a more traditional look and flower motif engraving on the side.
The first two Ohana Hatake models are currently sold exclusively through the brand’s website in the form of raffles. However, more releases are expected to be available in the coming weeks, while new models are set to arrive in 2025.
“I am pursuing an expression that explores the very relationship between American and Japanese cultures. I would love it if those who wear these sandals could sense how this team managed to craft something wonderful out of my quirky, off-the-mark ideas,” said Murakami of Ohana Hatake.
