Last week, Vans dropped a deconstructed version of its Sk8-Hi and slip-on shoes, which featured a multi-textile upper and branding over the laces and midsole. As images of the iterations made their rounds online, shoppers reportedly attributed the design to Virgil Abloh.
According to Sole Collector, re-surfaced rumors suggested that the design has been credited to Abloh since 2013, a year after he founded his own label, OFF-WHITE. Allegedly, Abloh’s name was stripped from the project due to prior commitments with Nike. In 2017, Abloh went on to drop the “The Ten” series in partnership with the American sportswear monolith.
On first sight, it’s understandable why the designs were credited to the Louis Vuitton creative director. The hi-tops feature “Off The Wall” branding in a Helvetica-style font, similar to Abloh’s designs for OFF-WHITE. Moreover, the branding utilizes double quote marks, a practice now synonymous with the designer.
Despite these comparisons, Abloh has confirmed that the rumors are untrue. Speaking with Sole Collector, Abloh simply stated: “This is false,” thus curbing any future rumor mills. The sneakers seen above belong to a pack called “Inside-Out,” which features several styles and various colorways.
Should an official OFF-WHITE x Vans collaboration ever arise, we’ll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, flip through each of the models above and below and let us know your favorite from Vans’ “Inside-Out” pack in the comments.
In other sneaker news, here’s how you can cop the adidas YEEZY Boost 350 V2 “Butter” today.
