Vans announces Grammy winning singer/songwriter SZA as their Artistic Director

Vans announces SZA as their Artistic Director and have entered into a multi-year creative partnership with the Grammy award winning singer/songwriter. She will work closely with Vans to reimagine upcoming campaigns and co-create exclusive product collections that fuse her unique vision with the brand’s creative and youthful spirit.

SZA is a revolutionary artist shaping the emotional tone of a generation. Through her genre-defying sound, she brings authenticity to the forefront, creating space for both softness and powerful expression. She challenges fashion norms and cultural expectations that empower youth to own their story. In her, we see the essence of Off the Wall, an artist who leads with creative intention and self-acceptance, while encouraging others to do the same.

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“In Vans, I feel free!" says SZA. “I've been wearing Knu Skools and other styles for years, they've always had an ethos I connect with. As Artistic Director, my mission is to show that joy, community, creativity, and fashion are all still intersectional. That humanity, culture, and connection are still the access points. I’ve learned that bravery and curiosity are the cures for uncertainty, it’s a lifestyle and Vans champions that spirit. They stand where I stand, and I’m honored to invite a whole bunch of people to stand Off the Wall with us.

Vans and SZA come together to showcase an original brand anthem dedicated to the beauty of becoming. The debut campaign is a dreamy ode to expressing vulnerability through self-reflection, art and style, spotlighting one of SZA’s favourite Vans footwear styles, the Knu Skool in Black/White. The campaign was directed and photographed by Sophie Jones and styled by Alejandra Hernandez.

The Vans Knu Skool, originally designed in 1997, reimagined the classic Old Skool™ for a new generation in the late ‘90’s. Influenced by skateboarding design, the Knu Skool features modern restyling of the original silhouette and includes a puffed-up tongue and 3D Sidestripe, as well as chunky, oversized laces.