We've been spoilt by the number of fashion collaborations recently, from Uniqlo dropping an artful new collection with the Louvre, to Adidas stepping up their Valentine's game. Now comes another inspiring creative partnership: Vans has teamed up with four emerging artists for a special capsule collection to celebrate Black History Month 2021.
The four artists have designed custom, limited-edition prints that will appear on a range of iconic styles from the athletic sneaker and apparel company, including slip-ons, Authentics, backpacks and more.
Vans said of the collab: “Black voices, artists, thinkers, and trailblazers shape every generation. This Black History Month we celebrate Black artists who are pushing the culture forward today through their voices and creativity, paving the way for generations to follow.”
In honor of Black History Month, we’re partnering with 4 Black artists to uplift their creative work through special Vans Customs prints. Learn more about Rewina Beshue, Chris Martin, Sydney G. James, Tony Whlgn & our donation to Black Art Futures Fund: https://t.co/fXjWQodnz8 pic.twitter.com/YWRVx7XY8gFebruary 4, 2021
The four artists that Vans are partnering with are Rewina Beshue, Christopher Martin, Sydney G James and Tony Whlgn. They have all come up with their own designs to highlight and celebrate Black culture in their own styles and mediums.
Rewina Beshue is a contemporary multimedia artist from San Francisco works in print-making, painting and graphic design. Her design for Vans is an experiment with optical illusions in black and white. She is currently featured on their website, as will other artists throughout the month.
Beshue said in an interview with Vans: “My voice is more loud than ever. More eyes can see me and what I am doing so I will use this time to capture attention and direct it towards major issues. I want to utilize my art to inform and inspire deeper thinking.”
Christopher Martin is a multidisciplinary artist based in Oakland, whose work explores the African diaspora. His sneaker design features a blackbird flying with a red rose in its beak.
Sydney G. James is a painter in Detroit, who creates large-scale murals. She explores “themes of the racial and gender positioning of the Black woman in America.” Her shoe design shows a black woman looking through a green divide with a pattern of the African continent on it.
Tony Whlgn is another Detroit-based artist, whose work is based on art as ”an imitation of his life and those he’s encountered.” His design shows an African mask surrounded by leaves, on a black background.
Alongside the Black History Month collaboration, Vans has also promised to donate $40,000 to the Black Arts Future Funding organization, which provides grants to community-based Black arts and culture organization
