OTW by Vans x Parra: When Skate Memory Becomes Visual Language
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By PAGE Editor
Some collaborations feel engineered; others feel inevitable. OTW by Vans x Parra belongs firmly to the latter. Rooted in a relationship that stretches back to the early 1990s—when a young Pieter “Parra” Janssen first rode for Vans as a sponsored skater—the partnership reads less like a brand alignment and more like a personal return. Long before museums, monographs, and global acclaim, Vans was part of Parra’s everyday terrain. Decades later, that shared history resurfaces through the Old Skool 36, reimagined through his unmistakable visual language.
Parra’s work has always lived in the space between precision and play. His surreal, bird-like figures, fluid shapes, and saturated palettes resist easy categorization, balancing humor with abstraction and restraint. Whether on canvas, textile, or sculpture, his compositions feel intuitive yet meticulously controlled—a sensibility that translates seamlessly onto Vans’ most enduring silhouette. The Old Skool 36 becomes a canvas, not for spectacle, but for nuance.
The sneaker pairs soft suede with Parra’s signature wavy colorblocking, introducing asymmetry and subtle tension without overwhelming the form. It’s minimalist, but never static. Details reveal themselves slowly: playful typography on custom tongue labels, mismatched footbeds, and a quietly insistent reminder—“Don’t forget to skate in these.” It’s a phrase that reads like both instruction and philosophy, grounding the collaboration in movement rather than myth.
Functionally, the shoe honors its skate lineage. Sola Foam ADC insoles provide comfort, while the vulcanized construction and Vans’ signature waffle outsole ensure performance remains intact. Matte foxing and custom heel scabs add a refined finish, reinforcing the idea that this is not a nostalgic exercise, but a contemporary expression of craft and culture.
Beyond the footwear, Parra extends the collaboration into moving image through a self-directed video. Less campaign than visual meditation, the film offers an intimate look at his creative process, echoing the same surreal logic that defines his studio practice. It situates the sneaker within a broader narrative—one where art, skateboarding, and personal history blur into a single continuum.
OTW by Vans positions itself as the brand’s most aspirational platform, celebrating skateboarding’s influence far beyond the board. In Parra, that mission finds a natural counterpart. His career has always crossed disciplines—fine art, fashion, music—without diluting its core identity. This collaboration feels like a full-circle moment not just for Parra, but for Vans itself: a reminder that skate culture’s most enduring impact lies in the ideas it sets in motion.
The OTW by Vans x Parra Old Skool 36 retails for $130 USD and launches January 22nd via vans.com/otw. A meeting point of memory, material, and meaning—built to be worn, skated, and lived in.
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The OTW by Vans x Parra Old Skool 36 marks a full-circle collaboration that fuses Parra’s surreal, minimalist artistry with Vans’ skate heritage, reimagining an iconic silhouette through thoughtful design, premium materials, and cultural authenticity.