Vans x Daniel Johnston
photo of Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston was a key figure in the alternative lo-fi music scene. Daniel is also widely known and beloved for his art and mental health awareness. His early cassette tapes featured his iconic hand drawn illustrations for the album art.
Vans, the original action sports brand and icon of creative expression, is proud to announce the Vans Skateboarding x Daniel Johnston Collection in partnership with the nonprofit Hi, How Are You Project to raise awareness and resources for mental health. Working directly with Johnston’s friends and family, and the nonprofit organization founded in his honor, Vans was inspired to create a head-to-toe collection celebrating the artist and musician’s work as a mental health advocate and his iconic cassette-tape artwork.
As an advocate for creative expression, Vans believes in the power of skateboarding as a creative outlet and the profound impact it can have on mental wellbeing. The Vans Skateboarding x Daniel Johnston collection reinforces this sentiment, featuring some of the original and well-recognized hand drawn illustrations that Johnston created for his early cassette tapes, and then handed out to friends and strangers to uplift and inspire. The artwork on the shoes features a Checkerboard created from these drawings, as well as the same lo-fi, gritty execution from his art.
The Skate SK8-Hi® in raven features Johnston’s classic hand-drawn cassette covers collaged as a custom Vans' Checkerboard pattern on the quarter. The Skate Authentic™ in antique white and Skate Slip-on in raven are each accompanied by the musician’s signature illustrations in black and white, with Johnston's most notable character, Jeremiah the Frog, and his most recognized album, “Hi, How Are You” printed across the sidewall and upper. All silhouettes in the collection include DURACAP™ reinforced materials for added durability and PopCush™ energy-return footbeds.
