OTW by Vans has once again tapped in with UNDERCOVER, continuing a partnership that has steadily become one of the most interesting intersections between skate heritage and contemporary fashion. For Spring/Summer 2026, the two brands return with a concise and considered footwear offering, reimagining two of Vans’ most recognisable silhouettes through the lens of UNDERCOVER founder Jun Takahashi.
The collaboration focuses on reinterpretation. Vans’ longstanding connection to skateboarding culture remains intact, but each silhouette has been elevated through art, storytelling and design interventions.
Arts Meets Footwear
Leadingthe collection is the Classic Slip-On 98, transformed into a wearable canvas through the inclusion of artwork by British painter Emma Bennett. Featured throughout UNDERCOVER’s Spring/Summer 2026 menswear collection, Bennett’s atmospheric paintings Whence You Came and Ardour appear across the left and right shoes, creating a asymmetrical composition.
The artwork brings a gallery-like quality to the silhouette, while collaborative branding on the heel patch and UNDERCOVER details across the foxing tape reinforce the partnership.
A Take on the Sk8-Hi
Alongside the Slip-On, UNDERCOVER revists the Sk8-Hi with a more restrained approach. Available in both a black and white colourway, the high-top features the brand’s signature Spider Check pattern across the upper, complemented by collaborative branding on the tongue and heel. The graphic treatment offere a contemporary twist on Vans’ visual language while still keeping the structure of the Sk8-Hi intact.
The OTW by Vans x UNDERCOVER collection releases on 24 june through UNDERCOVER and selected stocklists.
