For the first time since 2013, Vans have teamed up with, renowned, Paris based luxury fashion house Kenzo, for a limited capsule collection. While the joining together of two big names might be enough to grab headlines, to fully appreciate this collaborative effort requires delving into the roots of Vans.

When Vans first opened its doors in the late 60's, there was no indication that the small, family run company would parlay canvas and vulcanized rubber deck shoes into international icon of individualism status. Then, a fateful encounter with a picky customer changed everything.  As Mark Van Doren has told the story, a shopper who was splitting hairs over the particular shades on offer led Paul Van Doren to the realization that making a pair of shoes to the customer's exact preferences would be more easily achieved by the customer supplying the exact fabric, as opposed to stocking slight variations of the same color. Just like that, the customization that would define the Off the Wall ethos was born.

The legacy of unapologetically bold, often wild patterns, and customization provides the backdrop for two eternal Vans stalwarts, the Old Skool and the SK8-Hi, to be outfitted in vivid, all-over floral patterns from Kenzo's own extensive archive. (All-over is taken as literally as possible, as the patterns extend right down to the soles.) Call it democratized luxury, call it suburban punk couture; the whole point is, no one can say for sure which is which. In other words, it's a form of high fashion chic that is totally off the wall.

If a size is not listed, it is sold out. 

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