Ralph Steadman x Vans: The Full Collaborative Collection
Every paint-splattered sneaker and illustrative T-shirt from the release.
On the heels of our first look at the collection, we now have a complete look at the Ralph Steadman x Vans Vault capsule collection, aside from the matching skate decks. The footwear selection includes a wide variety of classic Vans styles, informed by Steadman’s signature splatter-heavy approach to painting and a desire to evoke positive conservation-related activities.
The collection’s head-turning illustrations were sourced from the artwork that Steadman contributed to Ceri Levy’s books Extinct Boids, Nextinction, and Critical Critters. Levi and Steadman are self-identified “Gonzovationists,” which Levy describes as such: “We’ve always maintained that you’ve got to make people laugh in order to engage them. If we just tell people, ‘you’re all dreadful bastards, you’ve screwed it all up, and now look what’s going to happen,’ people go, ‘yeah, whatever.’ But if you make them laugh, you’ve got a chance.”
Vans’ collaboration with the Gonzovationists is fueled by a partnership with WildAid, an organization aiming to reduce global consumption of wildlife products and bolster support for conservation efforts. Vans will donate $10,000 to the charity, alongside a series of donation installations abetted by Steadman’s original artwork in its New York pop-up.
In line with that theme, Steadman’s collaborative Vans sneakers and apparel are emblazoned with his distinctive artwork and plenty of bright tones. A pair of Sk8-His sport lion and Grevy’s zebra imagery, complete with illustrated text from the books, a theme that pervades the entire release. Four distinctive Slip-Ons boast animal nods and Gonzovationist art alike; these range from a yellow pair of Slip-Ons replete with “I’M A GONZOVATIONIST” embellishments to a cool-hued sneaker splashed with paintings of the bluefin tuna.
Along with plenty of organic cotton T-shirts, showcasing critters like the western European hedgehog and grey nurse shark, several skate decks and a pair of Style 138 sneakers round out the drop. The latter sneakers highlight the fin whale and lemur leaf frog, two wholly distinctive creatures that each receive all-over blue and green tonal shoes, complete with like-tones on the vamp and sockliner.
The collection is currently available for purchase via Vans stockists like SSENSE. You can read more on Vans Vault’s dedicated site, including detailed information about each animal emblazoned upon the shoes.
Most recently, Vans teased a collaboration with Harry Potter.
