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The announcement of Takashi Murakami working with Vans is something epic. It’s not just an epic occasion of the collision of an artist with a sneaker, but more so that it is with one of the most influential and inspiring artists of our time with a brand with timeless heritage and history.
In 2002, Murakami partnered with another fashion brand to create a second to none collaboration that it is still sold and highly coveted today – the Louis Vuitton Multicolore. Though there were subsequent, limited run series that followed such as the Monogram Cerises and the Monogramouflage, the original has remained ever present in the line.
The beauty of the Vans collaboration is that its price point will make it attainable to the average consumer. Murakami has made it a point to design special collections of art in the form of plush toys, key chains and other lower priced point objects as a way to allow all who love his work to be able to own a piece of it.
Atlanta based graphic artist, Larry Luk has worked with Nice Kicks in the past on special projects, most notably with his “Takeover” of the Nice Kicks store in Austin, TX back in 2014. I decided to reach out to him to discuss the idea of creating a “what if” series based on the Murakami X Vans project. He was up for the task and below you can see what he imagined the shoes might actually look like.
It is important to note two things:
1.) Neither Larry, nor myself (or anyone at Nice Kicks for that matter) have seen what the shoes actually look like. This is a very tightly guarded release and Vans has done an amazing job at keeping it under wraps.
2.) Larry has deliberately decided not to sign his work to honor the genius of Murakami.
Let us know what you think below.
Takashi Murakami x Vans Era Imagined by Larry Luk
Takashi Murakami x Vans Era Imagined by Larry Luk
Takashi Murakami x Vans Slip On Imagined by Larry Luk
Takashi Murakami x Vans Sk8-Hi Imagined by Larry Luk
Takashi Murakami x Vans Era Imagined by Larry Luk
Takashi Murakami x Vans Slip-On Imagined by Larry Luk
