Vans x Opening Ceremony
Since 2014, Vans and Opening Ceremony have forged a partnership rooted in celebrating creative expression and collaboration. This February, Vans and Opening Ceremony reunite to debut the first global collection of footwear, apparel and accessories released by the two iconic brands.
Established in 2002, Opening Ceremony emerged as a creative, multi-brand retailer motivated by principles of exploration and friendship, and has since celebrated many unique and diverse perspectives of people and countries around the world. Opening Ceremony founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, both of whom are renowned designers in their own right, have amplified voices and pushed boundaries that often reach far beyond the fashion world. At the forefront of fashion for decades, Carol and Humberto continue to celebrate their longstanding partnership with Vans, this time on a global scale.
"Vans has been a long-time creative partner of ours, and we're so excited to collaborate on their iconic print this season,” says Opening Ceremony Creative Director Humberto Leon. “For this new capsule collection, Carol and I are inspired to reinvent the checkerboard, taking a new graphic approach to Vans' classic pattern."
Inspired by Vans’ iconic checkerboard print, Opening Ceremony founders reinvent the pattern with abstract snake and leopard patterns across apparel and footwear. Using Vans’ original deck shoe, the Authentic as their canvas, Opening Ceremony have created an all-over repeat pattern that highlights the positive and negative space – finding harmony between the motifs of the snake and leopard across the uppers and sole of each shoe.
A second delivery of footwear takes an elevated approach using monochromatic uppers in orchid and baja blue. The Authentic QLT brings two of-the-moment colorways to Vans’ maiden silhouette, with an all-over color, quilted vamp and lateral stitching. Each shoe is finished with an Opening Ceremony woven patch on the heel.
