Vibram, the inventor of the rubber lug sole, has remained one of the most trusted footwear supply brands since 1937, its technology tapped by the likes of Virgil Abloh’s Off-White™, Suicoke, and Prada. Who better to utilize the Italian company’s sturdy slip-proof soles than the legendary skatewear brand Vans?
Since the brands’ first collaboration in 2021, Vans and Vibram have augmented everything from the Authentic skate sneaker to the Sk8-Hi shoe. Now, ahead of winter, we get some fresh new colors and materials to gawk over.
The new colorways of Vans x Vibram include black and dark khaki leather and turquoise and hot pink suede. The materials of the Vibram collab give a new perspective to Vans’ shoes, as even the original all-white and black offerings looked like a mismatched beefy sole bolted onto the classic Authentic sneaker.
Vans x Vibram’s kitschy new look follows the same vein of the Collina Strada collab that dropped earlier this year. Alongside a doodled-on slip-on sneaker and a paint-splattered Sk8-Hi, the centerpieces of the Collina Strada x Vans collection were shiny, monochromatic gold and pink Authentics fitted with a chunky Vibram sole.
The all-over wash of unexpected color transformed the reliable and iconic skate shoe into a statement that leaned into the Oxford-like silhouette by replacing the canvas uppers with leather.
While it’s probably not a good idea to land some skate tricks in Vans’ Vibram-soled shoes, they’re definitely ready for the streets, and these new colors and materials offer even more styling possibilities from street to chic.
