DSM Kei Ninomiya x Vans Slip-On Revealed
Comme des Garçons' Dover Street Market and designer Kei Ninomiya have unveiled the first official images of their collaborative Vans Slip-On collection, originally previewed during Pitti Uomo 110. The project reimagines the iconic silhouette with refined aesthetic modifications and textile interventions.
By Ava Rodriguez
The partnership between DSM's creative director Ninomiya and Vans marks a measured intersection of high-end design sensibility and core skate vernacular. Rather than wholesale silhouette redesign, the collection opts for surgical restraint—the Slip-On's familiar canvas construction serves as canvas for custom branding treatments and layered floral appliqués that suggest both botanical reference and textile experimentation.
Ninomiya's design vocabulary—rooted in deconstruction and material study—translates distinctly onto Vans' most utilitarian model. The floral overlays function as intentional visual noise against the shoe's minimalist geometry, a tension consistent with Comme des Garçons' broader design philosophy. Custom embroidery and branded elements distinguish the collaborative pair from standard Slip-On releases, positioning it as a statement piece rather than casual refresh.
Design Direction
The collection avoids the typical "luxury brand meets sneaker" cliché. Instead, it reads as a genuine dialogue between two aesthetics—Vans' skate legacy and Ninomiya's conceptual rigor. The modified Slip-On silhouettes retain the model's structural integrity while incorporating textile details that suggest deeper research into both brands' archives. Colorway selection and material choices remain deliberately considered rather than trend-responsive.
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Release Info
Availability: TBA
Retail Price: TBA
Retailers: Dover Street Market, select Vans accounts
Official release date and pricing details have not yet been confirmed. The collection is expected to drop through DSM locations and Vans' direct channels in coming months.
