OTW BY VANS PARTNERS WITH STERLING RUBY’S STUDIO

Summary:

• OTW by Vans collaborates with Sterling Ruby’s S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. on a new footwear collection
• Collection features the Authentic Prima sneaker with squared toe and full-grain leather upper
• Future Clog in green and microcheck Authentic complete the lineup, available December 16

Sterling Ruby’s fashion label S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. has teamed up with OTW by Vans to release a collection of footwear. The partnership brings together Ruby’s art background with Vans’ approach to design and manufacturing.

Photographer Yudo Kurita shot the campaign for the release.

The collection centers on the Authentic Prima, a new silhouette based on the classic Authentic sneaker. The Prima features a squared toe covered in rubber and updates the original design with simple details. The upper uses full-grain leather. Vans includes Sola Foam ADV cushioning in the sole construction. The collection also includes a black and beige microcheck Authentic with reflective logos.

OTW by Vans produces the Future Clog in green for this collaboration. The Future Clog combines elements of a minimal clog with a Dutch wooden shoe design. A pair of red and black colorblock jacquard socks rounds out the product offering.

OTW by Vans operates as a specialized division within Vans, focused on skateboarding’s influence on wider culture. The brand works with people from skateboarding, art, fashion, design, and entertainment sectors. Products reach consumers through selected global partners and the brand’s website.

Sterling Ruby created S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. as a ready-to-wear clothing and accessories line. The artist spent years working with hand-processed fabrics and studying traditional American craft techniques before launching the collection. S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. made its first appearance in 2019 at Pitti Immagine Uomo 96 in Florence as a Special Guest. The Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode invited Ruby to show during the Couture season of Paris Fashion Week 2021. That same year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute displayed pieces from the collection in “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” at the Met in New York.

Ruby works across multiple disciplines including sculpture, ceramics, video, collage, photography, textiles, and painting. The Los Angeles-based artist holds pieces in major public collections worldwide. The Museum of Modern Art in New York owns his work, as do the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Whitney Museum of American Art, both in New York. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art includes Ruby’s pieces in its collection. International institutions such as Tate Modern in London, Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, and Moderna Museet in Stockholm also hold his work.

Vans started in 1966 and maintains its “Off the Wall” identity. The company operates social media accounts on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Information about the brand appears at vans.com.

The collaboration marks another partnership for OTW by Vans with figures from outside traditional skateboarding circles. The brand continues to expand its reach through collaborations with artists and designers who bring different perspectives to footwear design.

Ruby’s involvement adds an art world connection to the Vans portfolio. His experience with textiles and materials from his fine art practice informs the design choices in the collection. The use of full-grain leather and specific construction methods reflects attention to material quality and durability.

The Authentic Prima represents a departure from standard sneaker design with its squared toe shape. This geometric element changes the visual profile of the shoe while maintaining the low-top silhouette associated with Vans. The rubber toe cap provides protection and adds to the shoe’s structure.

The Future Clog introduces a different category of footwear to the collaboration. Clogs have seen renewed interest in fashion circles, and this version applies a sculptural approach to the form. The green colorway distinguishes this piece within the collection.

The collection will be available through Vans website starting December 16.