Vans UNDERCOVER collaboration turns two of the brand's most recognizable silhouettes into wearable art, centering on the Classic Slip-On 98 and the Sk8-Hi.
The release pairs Vans' OTW line with Jun Takahashi's UNDERCOVER label, the brands said in a joint statement, and places fine-art oil painting and architectural shoe construction side by side.
Vans UNDERCOVER collaboration: Slip-On 98 as a wearable canvas
The Classic Slip-On 98 in this collection uses the canvasspace of the upper to showcase oil paintings by British artist Emma Bennett, titled "Whence You Came" and "Ardour."
With its laceless profile preserved, the shoe presents each brushstroke without interruption, translating layered oil textures into a street-ready surface. The Classic Slip-On 98 was designed so the painting motif reads across each shoe panel, creating a continuous visual field.
Vans UNDERCOVER collaboration: Jun Takahashi and the Sk8-Hi
The Sk8-Hi entry reflects Jun Takahashi's focus on structure and proportion, using precise geometric paneling to sharpen the silhouette while retaining the model's high-top profile.
Undercover, founded by Jun Takahashi in 1990, has long worked at the intersection of streetwear and art, the label said. The Sk8-Hi here reads as a study in angles, where cut lines and stitch placement define the shoe's visual edges.
Design, craft and cultural intent
The collaboration is presented under Vans' OTW imprint, which the company describes as its design-forward line that explores cultural intersections through footwear. The brands said the project aims to emphasize craft, culture, and creative experiment.
Materials are described as oil-painted textile for the Slip-On and reinforced suede and canvas for the Sk8-Hi, with reinforced stitching to preserve the artwork under regular wear. Production details and retail timing were not disclosed in the statement, the brands said.
Collectors and streetwear followers should expect limited quantities, the brands added, and a release that emphasizes the shoes as both functional goods and carriers of an artist's work. The collaboration positions the Vans UNDERCOVER collaboration as a bridge between gallery motifs and everyday wear.
