There is something appealing about the instinct to leave everything familiar behind. That feeling of wanting to step away from everything going on in life is at the heart of “An Instinct for Elsewhere”, a new collaboration between Munich-based label amulet and OTW by Vans. Combining the Californian skate brand’s footwear heritage and amulet’s nature-inspired visual language, the project transforms the Authentic into a more tactile, organic interpretation of one of Vans’ most recognisable silhouettes.
The collaboration works with Authentic’s established proportions and gives them a different character through material, texture and colour. The result takes cues from woodland environments and the details found on a walk through damp, overgrown landscapes. Deep chocolate brown, forest green, off-white and pale pink create a restrained combination that feels earthy without becoming overly literal.
Corduroy forms the base of the upper, covering the quarters in a rich chocolate-brown finish. Its pronounced ridges bring depth to the profile, while an off-white heel counter creates a clean break at the back. White stitching frames the construction, adding definition without distracting from the materials. At the front, the traditional toe box receives a special treatment: forest-green suede carries embossed patterns inspired by droplets and moss, recalling the uneven textures of a woodland after rainfall.
Woodland Textures Meet Vans Skate Heritage
The balance between the two labels is particularly clear in the way the sneaker handles its details. Vans provides the foundation through the Authentic, a silhouette closely associated with the brand’s skate and streetwear history, while amulet introduces a softer, more organic perspective. The collaboration uses the simplicity of teh shoe’s identity as a canvas for a more considered material story.
Pale pink appears throughout as a subtle counterpoint to the darker upper. It runs alongside the outsole foxing stripe, adding a fine line of colour around the base, and returns on the lace aglets. The custom insoles feature graphics built around amulet’s signature eye, bringing the label’s identity into the interior of the shoe. These elements are relatively understated, but they help tie the different parts of the design together without overwhelming the Authentic’s profile.
A Shoebox Pulled From the Vans Archives
The project’s attention to detail continues with the packaging, which reaches back into Vans’ early history. amulet and OTW by Vans revisit one of the original single-sheet cardboard shoeboxes from the late 1970s, reinterpreting the Van Doren “Customade for YOU” diagonal stripe design. The archival reference is updated through a softer palette of pale pink and off-white, replacing the original vintage blue colours that connect directly to the sneaker.
An Instinct for Elsewhere
The campaign brings the collaboration’s central idea into focus, with photography by Alexander Witzinger, featuring model Conny Mirbach. Graphics are handled by Dakota Zubeck of hdmistudio, with Jake Mednik leading the project for Vans. Together, the visual direction and prduct design reinforce the sense of a journey without prescribing exactly where it should lead. “Elsewhere” is intentionally open-ended, leaving room for the wearer to interpret the idea in their own way.
The amulet x OTW by Vans Authentic will be a strictly limited Friends & Family release, with a potential wider launch left open for the future. The collaboration will be revealed on Thursday 5 November 2026 at 6PM CET, before launching later that evening at 10PM CET.
amulet and OTW by Vans Follow an Instinct for Elsewhere With a New Authentic
