Vans x Julian Klincewicz Drops May 15
Photographer and creative director Julian Klincewicz returns to Vans for his first collection since 2022, bringing the iconic Old Skool and Style 31 silhouettes into conversation with his Southern California sensibility. The capsule arrives May 15.
By Ava Rodriguez
The Vans catalogue has always been defined by genuine relationships rather than transactional partnerships. Julian Klincewicz represents precisely that ethos—a visual artist whose career spans high-profile work with Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé, yet whose foundational connection to skateboarding remains central to his creative identity. His return to the Vans family signals not a comeback, but a reunion among collaborators whose values align.
This collection divides itself into two distinct aesthetic territories. The Old Skool appears in bold, color-blocked iterations: one pairing yellow, orange, and teal in complementary tension, the other cycling through teal, orange, and purple. These are statements of movement and warmth, rooted in the kind of intuitive chromatic sensibility that defines Klincewicz's broader practice.
The Style 31 takes the opposing approach. Rendered in an inky, all-over aesthetic, it allows typographic detail—specifically "The Joyous Chorus" in gold—to become the primary visual anchor. That text threads through the entire collection, functioning as both conceptual throughline and design signature.
Design and Heritage
Both silhouettes carry Klincewicz's SoCal roots throughout, expressed in material choices and visual restraint rather than explicit iconography. The accompanying apparel extends that sensibility. A glossy hangtag featuring canine imagery adds craft-focused detailing—the kind of considered touch that separates thoughtful collaborations from routine product extensions.
This marks Klincewicz's third Vans project within six years, following a 2022 capsule under the now-retired Vault imprint. That sub-label once represented the brand's design pinnacle; OTW has since inherited much of that legacy. The through-line remains clear: Vans continues to invest in creators who understand skate culture as lived experience, not aesthetic shorthand.
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Release Info
Vans x Julian Klincewicz Collection
- Old Skool LX (Yellow/Orange/Teal): $125
- Old Skool LX (Teal/Orange/Purple): $125
- Style 31: $120
- Release Date: May 15, 2026
- Availability: Vans US, Sneaker Politics, and select retailers
