Vans Look to a ‘New Future’ With Four Athlete-Designed Old Skools
haven’t stopped dropping back-to-back heaters this year, especially on the collaborative front. Commanding release calendars with the likes of maximalist , ' checkerboard cuties, and even an , Vans clearly rode into 2025 with a strong vision. Their drop domination is set to continue in the back half of the year with their newest campaign, dubbed .
This fresh project focuses on reinventing the in four deeply personal designs, crafted through collaboration with athletes , , and . Each pair in the 'New Future' Premium Old Skool collection reflects the unique personality and passions of each rider, pulling inspiration from how they see and move through the world.
The Style 36 – aka – has been around since 1977 as the first Vans reinforced skate shoe, and the OG that donned the iconic Jazz Stripe. Despite being almost five decades old, the icon has kept its relevance thanks to an ability to act as a canvas, ripe for reinterpretation and expression. With ‘New Future’, Vans have celebrated the group's collective creativity, allowing each athlete to express their personality and passions across the Premium Old Skool.
Kicking off the collection is the 16-year-old Japanese skater Cocona Hiraki, who’s dressed the Premium Old Skool in custom graphics alongside detachable friendship bracelets and charms. 'With skateboarding, no one person is the same,' said Hiraki. 'Each person has a different style. To me, having your own unique skate style is the difference.'
Cali surfer Karina Rozunko has crafted her Premium Old Skool with an asymmetrically wrapped upper and metal buckle closures, while skater Tania Cruz looked to her crew for inspiration, decking out her Old Skool's upper in a unique black leather that rubs away to reveal a red layer underneath. Lastly, artist, model and skater Efron Danzig makes the biggest foray away from the Old Skool’s classic vibe, composing a platformed leather chunkster that exudes DIY punk energy.
Vans will be dropping the Premium Old Skool ‘New Future’ collection starting with on July 17 through their usual channels. September 4 is pencilled in for Rozunko and Cruz’s iterations, and you can expect Danzig’s Old Skool to land on September 10.