Vans Collabs From the Archive to Now
Artist crossovers, limited editions, and more
Written by Mikail Haroon (@mvkail) / Curated by the Welcome team
Everyone is wearing Vans again. Not just their usual fanatic collectors (which include Feng and Noah Dillon), but artists, musicians, and the cool kids in every city.
Not only is everyone wearing Vans, everyone is copying Vans. Across the broader footwear landscape, Vans’ influence has become increasingly difficult to ignore. See, for instance:
Rick Owens’ DRKSHDW sneakers have emerged as a cult favorite in recent years, reinterpreting the Old Skool
Prada recently showed a canvas low-top on the runway that looked remarkably similar to the Authentic
The Row has repeatedly released simple canvas shoes echoing the Vans Authentics
Miu Miu has offered its own take on the Vans formula
Jonathan Anderson referenced the Era and Slip-On in his SS26 collection for Dior
That’s because the brand has quietly had one of the most compelling runs in footwear over the past two years, thanks to the creative direction of Greg Betty, and a string of imaginative collaborations with Supreme, Mike Kelley, 424, Piet Parra, and others.
But not all Vans are created equal. In the last three decades, innumerable collaborations and limited editions have slowly established a hidden hierarchy behind the silhouettes. What may at first look like classic inline footwear might actually be the work of Jackson Pollock, Andres Serrano, Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami, Sterling Ruby, Raf Simons, Marc Jacobs, Tyler, the Creator, Matty Boy, or countless others.
So we went deep into the archive of Vans collaborations and limited editions to pull our favorites. Some are from the past, some are from the (relatively) present. All are creative standouts in their own way. Read on.
Anything Made in USA (1966 - late 1990s)
For hardcore collectors, original Made in USA Vans occupy a category of their own. Produced in California, these pairs featured different lasts and construction, heavier canvas, smaller production runs, and a direct connection to Southern California’s surf and skate culture. Some rare examples from the 1970s and ‘80s now sell for thousands of dollars. Steve Van Doren has even remarked that some collectors know more about these vintage models than the company itself. (Notably, Supreme’s first-ever collaboration with Vans (which was Vans’ first collaboration ever) in 1996 was also manufactured in the U.S.)
Vans x Raf Simmons x CDG x Collete Slip-On (2005)
One of the most culturally significant collaborations, particularly in the fashion world, is Raf Simmons, Collette, and Comme Des Garçons, colliding on these Vans. Raf’s influence on modern menswear is hard to overstate, and this pair is possibly the most fashion-insider Vans ever. The four-way collab was released to commemorate the “Colette meets Comme des Garçons” pop-up store in Tokyo, Japan. The canvas uppers feature graphics and slogans originally from Raf Simons’ iconic Spring/Summer 2003 “Consumed” collection. The pair, which was limited to 100 pairs, is currently on sale for $8,888 on eBay.
Vans x Marc Jacobs Slip-On “Crossword Supreme” (2005)
Little can be found about this Marc Jacobs-designed pair of Vans. Prior to the mid-2000s, Vans’ perception was confined to that of a skateboarding brand. This Marc Jacobs collaboration, coupled with the aforementioned collab involving Raf, CDG, and Colette, helped reposition Vans within the luxury and designer fashion conversation. Marc Jacobs, the creative director of Louis Vuitton, was among the first major luxury designers to seriously engage with the brand. Together, these collaborations demonstrated that Vans could function not only as a skate shoe, but also as a legitimate luxury fashion object.
Vans x Kaws x Simpsons Chukka Boot (2007/2008)
With only 100 pairs produced, this is one of the rarest shoes on this list, with its last sale hitting $2,985. Released when KAWS was still primarily an Art World figure, the collaboration predates his massive global popularity and was created to celebrate the theatrical release of The Simpsons Movie. Three colorways dropped; however, the blue and white has definitively grown to be the most memorable and highly coveted of the bunch.
Vans x OFWGTKA Old-School (2013)
This is the shoe that captured the Tumblr era. Made in collaboration with Tyler, The Creator and Odd Future, it embodies early internet streetwear and Fairfax Avenue culture. At the time, it represented genuine youth counterculture: The OF Tape Vol. 2 had come out in 2012, and Tyler was finishing up his sophomore album.
Vans x Supreme: Power, Corruption, and Lies (2013)
Based on the iconic 1983 New Order album Power, Corruption & Lies, with cover art designed by Peter Saville, this collaboration incorporates the A Basket of Roses painting by French artist Henri Fantin-Latour. It comes in Era, Sk8-Hi, and Chukka renditions.
Vans Supreme CDG Harold Hunter SK8-HI (2014)
Harold Hunter was the first Black professional skateboarder for NYC skate collective Zoo York. Hunter was a pioneer in putting East Coast skating on the map during the 1990s. He was also one of the stars of the 1996 controversial cult classic film Kids, which became one of the defining depictions of downtown New York youth culture. The photo printed on the shoe is an iconic picture of young Harold skating in Times Square.
Vans x Murakami Skull Slip-Ons (2015)
Rather than the smiling flowers that one might expect to find in a Murakami collab, his Vans edition went with a skull motif that references the artist’s darker work. The collaborative insole logo features Murakami’s pet dog, Pom, sitting atop a Vans skateboard. The pair was produced through Vans Vault, the brand’s high-end line, with specific colorways reportedly capping out at as low as 900 pairs worldwide.
Vans x Marc Jacobs x Ava Nirui Slip-On (2017)
A collaboration that truly feels ahead of its time, released in 2017 as part of a limited run of fewer than 200 pairs. Marc Jacobs also invited some of his creative friends to design custom one-of-one pairs (which were never sold), including Ava Nuri, Jin Soon Choi, Milk, Julie Verhoeven, Jazzelle Zanaughtti, Sarah Tanno, and a handful of Japanese artists. The Ava Nirui pair stands out, and features rainbow pins which also make them unwearable, functioning more as an art piece than footwear.
Vans x Supreme x Andres Serrano Blood Semen Chukka Pro (2017)
Probably the most controversial shoe here, Andres Serrano built his career around provocative art; the title references his infamous bodily-fluid artwork series. The Chukka pro is an underutilized much more niche silhouette, however like the Half-Cab, is highly regarded amongst serious collectors.
Vans x Damien Hirst (2019)
Hirst’s Vans collaboration is one of the most accessible ways to own his art. The collab features three different takes on the slip-on and the Sk8-Hi. The collection pulls imagery from his spot paintings and butterfly works. Our favorites are the simple multi-color polka dots. (The collaboration is also tied in part to the Palms Casino Resort, where Hirst designed a Demon With Bowl sculpture in the pool complex, alongside a number of his works added to the villa.)
Vans x Matty Boy Slip-On (2020)
These rare 1-of-1s feature assorted custom hand-drawn artwork (like Matty Boy’s signature “99 Eyes” and “Sex Machine”) across classic checkerboard or white canvas, complete with sterling silver Chrome Hearts daggers at the tongues. Exclusively sold at pop-ups, Matty Boy Vans typically resell on the secondary market anywhere from $1,500 to upwards of $4,000. (As a bonus check out this rare rendition of the Half-Cab that Matty Boy also did.)
Vans x MoMA ‘Jackson Pollock’s One: Number 31, 1950’ (2021)
One: Number 31, 1950 is considered one of the greatest abstract expressionist works ever created. The actual painting is housed at the Museum of Modern Art, alongside other Pollock drip paintings. The sneakers feature mismatched black-and-white insoles, co-branded with the Vans and MoMA logos.
Vans x Bianca Chandon “Stressed Black” Slip-On (2022)
Skater Alex Olson created Bianca Chandon after leaving mainstream skate culture. These collaborative slip-ons replace the traditional black-and-white checkerboard print, and sport a hand-greased, pre-distressed canvas upper and a repeating five-pointed star pattern throughout. The heel of the midsole features a blue ballpoint-style “Bianca Chandon” inscription that looks as if it has been scratched out by hand. There’s also a rare 1/1 version that’s laced, along with a blue variation.
Vans Vault x Gucci (2023)
This collaboration was part of Gucci Continuum, a program designed to turn deadstock fabrics and past-season pieces from Alessandro Michele’s Pre-Fall 2017 Gucci collection into one-of-a-kind streetwear items. It features a detailed silver-studded patchwork upper composed of upcycled archival Gucci and Vans fabrics, along with metal eyelets.
Vans x S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA (Sterling Ruby) (2024)
Few Vans collaborators carry the cultural weight of Sterling Ruby. The artist’s work has been shown everywhere from the Museum of Modern Art to the Whitney, and his collaborations with Raf Simons became some of the most influential fashion projects of the 2010s. The “Vampire Sunrise” is a recurring motif in Ruby’s clothing pieces, and this SK8-HI is just one part of a diverse ongoing collaboration between Ruby’s S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. and OTW by Vans.
Contemporary
Vans x Mattias Gollin Authentic LX ‘Autentiche’ (2025)
Each pair is hand-embellished in Italy with thousands of pearls, crystals, and beads, with production reportedly taking roughly eight hours per shoe. The pairs were released via appointment-only drops around Art Basel Miami. Mattias Gollin is an interesting collaborator, as he occupies a strange space between footwear designer, artist, and luxury craftsman.
Vans Old Skool Souvenir Pack (2025)
One of the strongest and most hyped inline Vans releases in years, many in the sneaker community drew comparisons to archival Chanel graffiti-era references. The shoe features a psychedelic acid washed brown upper, 70’s style buttons, leather detailing, and a multicolored frayed tweed jazz stripe. Vans has since expanded the Souvenir collection with three additional colorways in white, black, and blue.
Vans Vault Half Cab EF LX (2025/2026)
Designed around skate legend Steve Caballero, the duct-taped edition originated from skaters in the early ‘90s cutting down Caballero’s high-top shoes to the ankle and patching the cut edges with duct tape to prevent tearing. Many serious Vans collectors consider the Half Cab more culturally important than the Sk8-Hi.
Custom Vans Slip-On by Miles Franklin (2026)
Customizers have always been part of Vans culture since the slip-on is essentially a blank canvas. Miles Franklin’s warped slip-ons are an airbrushed rendition of the classic checkerboard slip-on. Franklin is known for his graphic design work for the streetwear brand Hellstar, and last month held his first solo exhibition at just 21 years old.
Vans Authentic “Ibiza Pack” (2026)
Taking inspiration from a Loewe bag of the same name, in an aesthetic reminiscent of a Sid Vicious-style sweater, the Ibiza Pack shows Vans experimenting boldly on a mainline release, a trend that has continued over the past two years.
Vans x Paura (2026)
Before becoming a celebrated artist with work in major galleries and museums, Paura was part of the Vans family as a sponsored skate. On their new collaboration together, the upper features fuzzy shoelaces tied around a paint-splattered airbrushed argyle upper, which is pierced throughout with legitimate Italian-made body piercings.
Vans LX Authentic 44 “Charm Pack” (2026)
When pictures of the “Charm Pack” dropped, many online were quick to make the comparison to Chanel’s famous “La Habana” bag from Chanel 2016/2017. Both share an army green base, along with silver and blue metallic sequin across a worn, oxidized upper. The pair seem to be a fan favorite amongst Greg Betty’s latest creations.
Vans Supreme x Mike Kelley White Half Cab (2026)
Mike Kelley is one of the most influential American artists of the last fifty years, and in the fashion sphere, the original 2018 Supreme x Mike Kelley projects are already considered landmark artist collaborations. Very few of the Vans on this list are Half-Cabs, but don’t be surprised to see a Half-Cabs renaissance in the near future.
Vans x 424 Slip-On (2026)
Bringing it back to California roots, it only makes sense for Vans to collaborate with Guillermo Andrade’s 424, which has quickly become one of LA’s most respected independent labels. In true 424 character, the slip-ons are understated, coming in grungy pink, green, grey, and purple.
one of my faves i own is the sandy liang x vans "scribble" sneakers released in 2022 :)