Palm Trees in Paradise: Wacko Maria x Vans LX Authentic 44

and have linked up once again, this time for a two-pack of LX 44s. The canvas is classic Vans Authentic, but Wacko Maria don’t do ‘plain.’ Crisp white and sky-blue uppers collide with palm tree graphics on the midsoles, a mashup that feels like catching a breeze off Huntington Pier. Capping it off is the brand’s calling card – 'Wacko Maria' in classic blackletter typography stamped across the heels.

What’s clever here is how the duo leaned into those coconut palms – it's a recurring motif for Wacko Maria that plays perfectly into Vans’ own visual history. For decades, palm graphics have been Vans shorthand for SoCal DNA, from early 2010s Authentics printed with tropical palms to summer packs like the

In Wacko Maria’s hands, that sun-drenched symbol of Venice Beach gets a Tokyo twist, turning a laid-back Californian icon into something sharper – primed for the streets of Shibuya.

Adding extra polish, the campaign for the latest collaboration was shot by internationally acclaimed photographer Jiro Konami (@jirokonami), whose sharp visual storytelling brings out every ounce of coastal cool.

This isn’t the first time Wacko Maria have laced up with Vans. Over the years the duo have cooked up everything from embroidered with the brand’s ‘Guilty Parties’ tag, to bold checkerboard spins in rasta hues, and even vinyl record-themed pairs that nodded to Wacko Maria’s deep ties to music culture.

The Vans x Wacko Maria LX Authentic 44 launches on August 23 at Wacko Maria, Vans, and select retailers.

Still hungry? Vans also just cooked up a bonkers two-part Clog colab with S.R. Studio