Vans Pays Homage to Japanese Woodblock Printing With Its Latest BILLY'S Exclusive
Including Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave Off Kanagawa.’
Special edition Vans are nothing new for Japan’s BILLY’S: the retailer has been the exclusive home to the Era Half Moon, Kevlar-constructed Classic Slip-On and Mountain Edition, “Taste of Chocolate” pack, “Polar Bear” pack and “Snake” Mountain Edition in the last few months alone. Now it’s back with its latest exclusive: yet another special Slip-On. This time around the limited edition release pays homage to Japan and the country’s rich tradition of nishiki-e — multicolored woodblock printing. Originally invented back in the 1760s, the medium was perfected by printmaker Suzuki Harunobu before exploding in popularity during the Meiji period (1868 to 1912). Some of Japan’s most iconic artworks — including Hokusai’s The Great Wave, which even appears on the kicks — come to mind when discussing the art form.
The unique and colorful kicks are now available online for ￥8,100 JPY (approximately $72 USD) while supplies last.
