Got Milk? BILLYS and Vans Whip up Cow-Themed V36OG Sneaker
A playful riff on the Year of the Ox.
Japanese retailer BILLYS is partially operated by ABC-MART, one of the country’s biggest footwear purveyors, but the specialty chain has carved out a niche for itself with a strong selection of exclusives, like its recent partnerships with GRAVIS and New Balance. Its latest in-house design is a bespoke take on the Vans V36OG silhouette, itself adjacent to BILLYS’ preferred Style 36, centered around a bold mismatched cow pattern that toys with 2021’s zodiac notation: the Year of the Ox.
Dubbed “BROWN REMIX,” the sneaker is BILLYS’ way of kicking off 2021, mixing asymmetric touches of brown-tinged cow print atop each side of the shoe’s upper. Hits of solid color break up the cowskin-inspired touches, which are all laden atop textiles like canvas and faux fur for an additional off-kilter edge. Clean white midsoles and matching laces keep the focus on the lurid details above without distraction, yielding a surprisingly wearable, if unconventional, spin on a classic skate silhouette
Look for the special Vans V36OG “BROWN REMIX” sneakers to hit BILLYS’ website December 26 for ¥12,000 JPY (approximately $115 USD).
Vans has even more timely collaborations up its sleeve, introducing another ox-inspired sneaker set alongside Chinese designer Suwokou.
