OTW by Vans Applies UNDERCOVER Motifs to the Sk8-Mid and Era
Revisiting UC’s “ANARCHY IS THE KEY” and D-Hand designs respectively.
Name: UNDERCOVER x OTW by Vans Sk8-Mid and Era
MSRP: $95 USD to $100 USD
Release Date: July 13 and July 16
Where to Buy: UNDERCOVER and Vans
Update: We caught a first look at UNDERCOVER’s new project with OTW by Vans, revisiting the Era and Sk8-Mid (previously thought to be a Sk8-Hi), back in January when the Japanese label presented its Fall/Winter 2024 Men’s collection. Now, it’s nearly time for the collaboration to launch as the four designs have been prepared for the public to embrace.
As discussed in our thorough review below, the Sk8-Mid leverages UNDERCOVER’s “ANARCHY IS THE KEY” motif — one that has been regularly used since the early ’90s — while the Era features a checkerboard pattern and the eerie D-Hand shape. Colorways of “Black/Blue” and “Black/Red” have been assembled for the Sk8-Mid. As for the Era, it has been outfitted in “Black/Red” and “True White/Black.”
Release is set to begin on July 13 as UNDERCOVER will launch all four styles. Following this, Vans is scheduled to drop the Sk8-Mid “Black/Red” and Era “True White/Black” on July 16 at prices ranging from $95 USD to $100 USD.
Original Story: Amidst the chaos of Paris Fashion Week, Jun Takahashi offered balance with his presentation of UNDERCOVER FW24 “WONDERFUL AND STRANGE.” Theming it around Twin Peaks, various graphics were applied to staple UC silhouettes, expanding his portfolio of media-based collections. While it marks the fourth season in a row without new collaborative Nike footwear, Takahashi opted to revitalize an old partnership once again — tapping Vans for four new designs.
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Kicking things off, the two have again reworked the Era — a design featured in their most recent project that took place in SS17 — covering it in Vans’ signature checkerboard pattern in off-white/black and red/black. Both feature a twist on UC’s D-Hand motif — which is best known for appearing in the brand’s FW15 collection (and again in FW23) — with the ghoulish hand in a new pose while sporting red and blue fingernails across the two colorways respectively. Adding to this, the standard UNDERCOVER JUN TAKAHASHI logo appears at the lateral midsole in black while the heel sports red co-branding.
For the other design, the Sk8-Hi, which UC previously reworked in SS02, has been prepared in two eye-catching colorways. UC’s “ANARCHY IS THE KEY” motif — one that has been utilized many times since the early ’90s, including in the UC x Supreme SS15 capsule — makes a return once again as it is spread across the upper’s midfoot and the tongue. Its first colorway sees black cover all of the upper except the tongue and the base panel that stretches from the midfoot to the heel, which both favor white as the backdrop to the aforementioned motif in red. The arrangement that accompanies it is all-black at the upper with a white jazz stripe that matches the white “ANARCHY IS THE KEY” text that stretches across blue backdrops. Matching the Era, its sole unit appears in white with Vans’ typical black line going around the shoe and a co-branded hit in red at the heel.
No release details pertaining to the latest project between UNDERCOVER and Vans have been shared by either brand just yet. However, given its inclusion in UC’s FW24 show, pairs are likely to pop up much later in the year. Stay tuned for updates as we await an official announcement from the duo.
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