Vans Vault is honoring the late Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in a collection of premium collaborative sneakers. The collection is comprised of three iconic Vans silhouettes — the Sk8-Hi, Authentic and Slip-On. All three sneakers take on the Vans Vault LX form, meaning each utilizes a mix of premium materials and finishes, as well as featuring artworks and murals including pictures of Kahlo herself and some of her most famous works.
The Vans Vault Sk8-Hi features a green leather and canvas mix on its upper and sees the work Las Dos Fridas printed around the shoe’s canvas section. In this 1939 painting, two Fridas are seen holding hands, symbolizing the artist’s divorce from Diego Rivera. It depicts two sides of the artist, one in a traditional Tehuana costume (a dress associated with the matriarchal society from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, Mexico) and the other in a more contemporary outfit illustrating an independent Frida.
Vans Vault has given its Authentic silhouette an all-over print from Kahlo’s still life work Viva la Vida. The painting is of cut watermelons and is reported to have been made just eight days before her death in 1954 as a tribute to her vibrant life. The all-canvas low top silhouette is completed by a contrasting white vulcanized sole unit and white laces.
Rounding off the collaborative collection is a pair of Slip-Ons, which are adorned with Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird. Frida’s face is placed on the front of the shoe and sees the artist wear a thorn necklace with a hummingbird dangling from it. A black monkey holds the necklace in place while Frida is seen standing in front of tropical leaves. The Vans Vault Slip-On is contrasted by a black canvas mid and rear section, a white sole unit and finally, the green-red split tab seen on all three pairs.
You can pick up all three pairs of the Frida Kahlo x Vans Vault sneakers from Sneakersnstuff on June 29 for £69 GBP each (approx. $88 USD).
For more art-covered sneakers, take a look at the latest in the long line up of Versace Chain Reaction offerings.
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