JJJJound and Vans are back together for Summer 2023, dropping a set of collaborative sneakers dressed in crisp summer whites. Thought JJJJound's shoe collabs couldn't get more minimal? Let JJJJound's new Vans Sk8-Hi, Authentic, and Slip-On convince you otherwise.
Comprising the aforementioned three shoe silhouettes, JJJJound x Vans 2023 is so simple that you'd be forgiven for assuming that these were in-line colorways with the JJJJound moniker simply slapped on the insole.
The Vans Sk8-Mid, Authentic, and Slip-On have all been realized in colorways of white and beige and organic cotton canvas and suede builds, so simple that you'd be forgiven for forgetting that JJJJound actually did work on these shoes.
Early looks shared by sneaker obsessives revealed ultra simple Vans skate shoes and, as usual, not even a hint of JJJJound branding, not even on the insole. But official photos sees the Montreal-based design studio's branding materialize on an extra lowkey woven beige label on each shoe.
JJJJound's super plain Vans are slated to release on July 20 at JJJJound's website, followed by a wider release at Vans and select stockists on July 28.
It is tradition to pull your hot weather-friendly white clothes out of storage after Memorial Day (May 26 this year) and put 'em away come Labor Day (September 4) so it's fitting that JJJJound and Vans' summer whites would be rolling out before things cool off.
That being said, the new JJJJound x Vans shoes are even simpler than the last round of JJJJound Vans, which were at least offered in attractive beige and brown colorways that looked at least a little special by comparison.
JJJJound's sneaker collabs really do have two speeds: super normal-looking all-white makeups and earth-toned shoes that epitomize the beige AF lifestyle proffered by JJJJound and its versatile in-house staple clothes.
Even when adding a pop of color to otherwise mostly-white colorways, JJJJound still leans hard into neutrality with deceivingly understated colorways.
If you aren't already picking up what JJJJound is putting down — that is, if you aren't already devoted to JJJJound's vision of post-normcore subtlety — it's probably not easy to grasp the appeal of its unassuming sneaker collabs. That's just fine by JJJJound fans, though: they'll make sure they all sell out in milliseconds regardless.
This article was published on June 28 and updated on July 14
