Vans and Tony Alva Celebrate Their Shared Roots in New Heritage-Inspired Collaboration

Today, Vans and Tony Alva’s skating imprint, Alva Skates, have joined forces to craft a line that champions both brands’ histories, with contributions from artist DJ Javier, Vans team rider Bella Kenworthy and musician KennyHoopla.

Vans and Alva go way back. In 1974, the American skateboarder signed a deal with the footwear brand, just under a decade into its existence. In 1977, Alva founded his namesake skating brand, after playing a pivotal role in creating Vans’ first-ever skateboarding shoe, the Era. And ever since, the two entities have existed symbiotically in their influence over the skating domain.

In an interview with Hypebeast in 2017, Alva reflected on how he has witnessed Vans evolve over the years. “I’ve watched Vans come from a little small mom-and-pop business to where it’s $3 Billion a year super successful, and it’s because we stayed true to the game. We’re open to promoting ourselves through things that kids are passionate about: music, art, fashion — but like real fashion done by the kids for the kids — surfing and skateboarding.”

Inside their collaborative collection, Vans and Alva introduce the Authentic 44 DX Alva Skates in Brown/Pink, with leopard-printed suede that recalls the blueprint Alva Skates boards from the ’70s. The silhouette features enlarged logo work that references the skate brand’s original iconography. Elsewhere, the range features the Authentic 44 DX Alva Skates in Halo Multi, which call on the halo effect of ’80s boards with a gradient print, and the Authentic 44 DX Alva Skates in Navy, which pair a quilted canvas upper with a subtle, white lotus pattern.

Rounding out the range, the collaboration offers up an Alva Skates crew fleece with fiery graphics, the OTW T-shirt doused in black-and-white illustrations, loose tapered cargo pants and a bucket hat decorated with Vans and Alva Skates pins.

The Alva Skates collection will be available beginning January 12 at Vans stores and on the brand’s website. Take a look at the range in the gallery above.

In more footwear news, Packer offered a first look at its snakeskin Clarks Wallabee collaboration.