vans unveils van gogh collection inspired by the artist's iconic paintings

vans has partnered with the van gogh museum in amsterdam on a collection of shoes and apparel inspired by the dutch artist’s masterpieces. the brand and the museum have selected four main bodies of work to be used as themes in the collection, with proceeds dedicated to the preservation of van gogh’s legacy and collection of art.

images courtesy of vans

the limited-edition series will feature some of the artist’s most prominent works, including skull (1887), almond blossom (1890), sunflowers (1889) and his self-portrait as a painter (1887-1888). the iconic artist’s studies of skeletons will be seen on the vans classic slip-on, a long-sleeve tee, hoodie and hat, with van gogh’s human skull placed expertly across each silhouette with subtle details of the artist’s handwriting and brush strokes hidden in a reimagined checkerboard print. 

one of the artist’s famous sunflowers paintings patterns a pair of authentic sneakers as well as a boyfriend tee and hoodie, while almond blossom has been digitally printed atop a satin material for a bomber jacket, a backpack and a baseball cap. van gogh’s self-portrait makes it onto the authentic, as well as on an oversized tee.

the final round-up of designs includes an ode to van gogh’s drawing titled old vineyard with peasant woman (1890) on the brand’s classic sneakers and a classic slip-on featuring excerpts from handwritten letter from vincent to his brother. vans designers pulled excerpts and illustrations from some of the 700 letters that were sent to theo and have wrapped them across the classic slip-on model.

 ‘we are delighted with the vans x van gogh museum collection, as it ties in with our mission to make the life and work of vincent van gogh accessible to as many people as possible in order to enrich and inspire them‘, said adriaan dönszelmann, managing director of the van gogh museum. ‘by uniting van gogh’s iconic artworks with iconic vans styles, our partnership brings vincent’s art ‘off the wall’ and into the world to a new audience outside the museum.‘

the vans x van gogh museum collection will be available worldwide on qugust 3 at vans.com and vans retail stores, as well as at vangoghmuseumshop.com and at the van gogh museum in amsterdam.