Taking on a mold that borrows some design specifications from Vans Authentic White silhouette, the sneaker is outfitted in the shape of a traditional Chinese kung-fu jacket. Three frog buttons appear at the top in place of laces next to elastic collars. To complete the sneaker design, Japanese Katakana is placed at the rear quarter of the midsole as a cheeky nod to the Kiai shouts employed in martial arts.
The latest round of collaborative Vans Authentic Womens lightly tweak the original colorways, offering up neutral black/white and white iterations alongside red/white, orange/white and “Rasta White” variants. Each pair boasts a different midsole, sometimes with tonal foxing, with Fucking Awesome branding emblazoned across the toe and heel, occasionally in contrasting hues. Solid-toned canvas informs the midfoot, with laces to match. Metal eyelets lend the low-top shoes a premium touch.
BILLY’s Tokyo has a profusion of Vans collaborations under their belt, and for their latest project they’ve given the Vans Authentic Sale a kung fu jacket-style makeover. Arriving in both a dark navy and a black colorway, the shoe may be an Authentic in its name, but it’s much more Vans Slip-On in its stylings, discarding the standard lacing system in favor of three knotted fabric strips inspired by the ties that are found on on traditional kung fu tops. A co-branded cup insole ensures long-lasting comfort no matter if you’re kicking in the dojo or pushing on your skateboard, and the midsole features a playful printed detail that translates to “Acho Oo O.” Vulcanized rubber soles then complete the look.
Vans Authentic "Camo POP" Blue Black drops their latest plaid rendition of the Authentic, an original and now iconic everyday silhouette. This iteration of the Vans Authentic features a mix of two different plaid materials on its canvas upper. Other details includes metal eyelets, Vans flag label atop its signature Gum waffle outsole.