Bianca Chandôn Serves a Distressed Vans Sk8-Hi and Authentic Collaboration

Alex Olsen‘s skateboarding label Bianca Chandôn was founded in 2014 and draws heavily from the 1970s — even coining its name after the Studio 54 legend Bianca Jagger and the racing driver Olivier Chandon de Braîlles. The brand is known for its “Lover” graphic, once more leaning into ’70s themes, and has gone on to work with everyone from Dover Street Market and Tom Bianchi to Crescent Down and Union L.A., and now it adds Vans to its roster of partners with the release of four skate-ready sneakers.

Taking on the Sk8-Hi Reissue VLT LX, Old Skool VLT LX, Authentic VLT LX and the Classic Slip-On VLT LX respectively, that are indebted to the skate scene — Bianca Chandôn applies a distinctive vintage aesthetic that gives the pairs a pleasantly worn-in look. Most of the work has been applied to Vans’ signature vulcanized waffle sole unit, which has been treated to a heavy wearing that looks as if the pairs have already been skated in, tinting the creamy base with black scuff marks and ink-like spills around the “Off The Wall” license plates on the heel. Completing the look is Bianca Chandôn’s signature which looks as if it’s been written onto the sole with a blue biro pen.

As for the rest of the shoe, you’ll find the Sk8-Hi sport a black colorway intersected with gray paneling that’s covered in stars, while leather has been used for the Vans stripe that runs across the mid-panel. Black suede works the toe, eyestay placket and heel cup, while dirtied white laces and a “Vault” tongue tag round things off.

Bianca Chandôn’s OG Authentic comes in a complementing blue colorway, with its white mid-panel upper sporting blue stars and the toe box being made from canvas. Here, more distressing has been applied to the uppers as the toe and heel are just as dirty as the sole unit.

The Bianca Chandôn x Vans OG Sk8-Hi and Authentic collaboration drops on August 20, 2022 via select Vault by Vans and Bianca Chandôn retail accounts and online at Vans on August 23.

For more skate-centric sneakers, check out the Pawnshop Skate Co. x Nike SB Dunk High.