Vans has just named its first Artistic Director, and it’s non other than critically acclaimed, platinum-selling, Grammy-winning alternative R&B singer/songwriter SZA.
Vans has nothing but praise for SZA for her “genre-transcending sound and radical authenticity”. “She challenges fashion codes and cultural expectations and encourages young people to write their own stories. This is precisely what makes her the embodiment of Off the Wall, Vans’ credo for creative freedom and self-acceptance.”
As part of the multi-year partnership, SZA will help to “reimagine upcoming campaigns and co-create exclusive product collections that fuse her unique vision with the brand’s creative and youthful spirit,” said the brand in a press release.
“In Vans, I feel free,” said SZA in the announcement. “I’ve been wearing Knu Skools and other styles for years. They have always had an ethos that I connect with. For me, joy, community, creativity and fashion go hand in hand. It’s still all about humanity, culture and connection. Curiosity and courage are the best medicine for uncertainty, and Vans embodies that lifestyle.”
“My mission is to show that joy, community, creativity and fashion are all still intersectional,” said SZA in a statement. “[Vans] stands where I stand, and I’m honored to invite a whole bunch of people to stand Off the Wall with us.”
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Photo Credit: Hunter Crenian / Shutterstock.com