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From Reebok to Diemme, and now to Vans, Nicole McLaughlin is on a mission to refresh the world and its practices, one upcycle at a time. For her debut Vault by Vans collaboration, the designer and multidisciplinary artist reimagines the Vans Slip-On VP VR3 LX.
Inspired by her love for vintage gardening and workwear totes, McLaughlin transforms the Vans Slip-On into a practical yet fun work of art, utilizing a mix of recycled and responsibly sourced materials.
The Vault by Vans NM Gardening Tote is a vision I’ve had for a while. I’ve always loved the Slip-Ons and the traditional canvas upper. The idea of canvas made me think about vintage gardening bags and it inspired me to make my own version, a functional gardening tote Slip-On.
I created the original sample by using an old gardening bag, and the idea of sourcing sustainable fabrics and materials followed through the rest of the design process. I’m so excited with how the shoes turned out and it was so fun collaborating with the Vans team, they made my vision come to life!
Nicole McLaughlin
With this in mind, McLaughlin gives the Slip-On a new purpose with utilitarian pockets for gardening materials and work tools across the toe vamp. Available in two colorways, the “White/Green” iteration is inspired by the classic gardening tote, whereas the “Brown/Grey” edition embodies a classic workwear bucket bag. Both silhouettes are finished with custom Nicole McLaughlin labels and a custom ankle collar strap for a functional way to carry and store your shoes.
As Vans continually works to combat waste and incorporate sustainable solutions, the forthcoming Slip-On is comprised of organic cotton canvas uppers with 50% recycled polyester bindings, as well as a VR3Cush footbed and the new VR3Waffle outsole.
Engineered by Vans, both the VR3Waffle outsole and the VR3Cush footbed are made with the planet in mind. The VR3Waffle outsole contains 60% responsibly sourced natural rubber. Meanwhile, the Vans VR3Cush footbed is made using at least 25% biobased EVA foam partially derived from plants.
The Nicole McLaughlin x Vault by Vans drops on March 31, 2023. To purchase, visit select Vault by Vans retailers and Vans.com/Nicole. For more sneaker news and release dates, follow @NiceKicks on Instagram.
