The Skate Sk8-Hi Decon and Skate Slip-On receive a cheetah print update
Montreal, QC. (June 14, 2021) – As the original action sports brand and icon of creative expression, Vans is commited to uplifting trailblazers who embody the “Off The Wall” spirit. This season, Vans partnered with team rider, musician, and artist Cher Strauberry to infuse her fun, edgy style into the Skate Classics collection and an apparel pack to match.
Cher has made massive waves in skateboarding as an influencer in the queer skate community. Her role within San Francisco-based Unity Skate, as well as helping found queer skateboarding brand, Glue Skateboards, has helped grow inclusivity within the space. This sentiment shines through in the latest short film, Vans Skateboarding Presents: Cher Strauberry, exploring how Cher arrived where she is today. The Vans collection speaks to Cher’s unique style, pairing her design aesthetic with Skate Classics’ reinforced materials and upgraded construction to take Cher’s skating even further, providing added durability and energy-return cushioning for longer skate sessions.
“I’m beyond excited to get to play with re-designing some of my favorite pairs of Vans,” Cher said. “My inspiration for the collection really came from my relationship to clothes; I never really liked shopping or spending lots of time in a store. Most of my favorite pieces came from someone gifting me their old clothes. The cheetah print came from my friend Wavvie, who gave me my first skirt which was—you guessed it— all cheetah print. When clothes have meaning behind them, they’re more
The Skate Classics by Cher Strauberry collection leads with the Skate Sk8-Hi Decon, a new silhouette for Vans Skateboarding developed specifically for Cher as a high-top with a slimmed-down profile. The Sk8-Hi Decon features a cheetah-print canvas upper, black foxing and suede detailing, waxed laces, and a black leather Sidestripe for a sophisticated look with an edgy twist. Cher’s signature appears along the tonal sidewall featuring a strawberry graphic, which can also be found on the shoe’s heel.
Cher’s Skate Slip-On follows suit in tonal black suede cheetah print, with black foxing and gold hardware on the vamp that speaks to her bold, elevated aesthetic sensibility.
Skate Classics feature a molded heel counter and locked-in tongue straps with premium heel hold, and DURACAP underlays for added flexibility and removing excess bulk to eliminate hot spots, resulting in an essential fit for maximum durability where skaters need it most. Two-part foxing with heavier knurl texture on the toe bumpers, as well as Sick Stick, a new proprietary gum rubber compound, increases the durability and longevity of the shoe. In addition, Vans’ best-in-class PopCush energy-return footbeds snap back and won’t pack out, keeping legs feeling fresh to skate longer.
An apparel pack ties back to Cher’s footwear, including a black denim jacket with a faux fur cheetah collar, as well as an all-over cheetah print skirt and bralette featuring her signature embroidered strawberry graphic, and a black boxy tee with cheetah print around the sleeves with a center chest Vans logo and embroidered strawberry graphic.
Skateboarder, musician and artist Cher Strauberry epitomizes the newly revived Embarcadero skate scene in San Francisco. As a transwoman, she is a true pioneer within skateboarding. Off the board, Cher is the lead singer of the lo-fi punk band Twompsax, and the publisher of her zine, diddlysquat.
The Skate Classics by Cher Strauberry collection is now available at Vans Skate retailers and Vans.ca/Skateboarding.
About Vans
Vans®, a VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) brand, is the original action sports footwear, apparel and accessories brand. Vans® authentic collections are sold in 97 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and international offices. Vans® has over 2,000 retail locations globally including owned, concession and partnership doors. The Vans® brand promotes creative self-expression in youth culture across action sports, art, music and street culture and delivers progressive platforms such as Vans Checkerboard Day, Vans Park Series, Vans Triple Crown of Surfing®, Vans Custom Culture, and Vans’ cultural hub and international music venue, House of Vans.
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