Vans Steps Into Luxury With L’Art De L’Automobile Collab

Vans has teamed up with Arthur Karakoumouchian’s L’Art de l’Automobile to drop two luxe editions of the Vans Era Vault. A crossover of two die-hard cultures sees Vans’ skateculture and Karakoumouchian (aka Kar)’s obsession of cars for a speedy silhouette.  

Arriving in Black & White renditions, the pairs feature multiple elements paying homage to Kar’s love. On the lateral side is a colorful graphic showing the MK1 Volkswagen Golf GTI that Kar’s family owned. The heel and toe box vamp are constructed from alcantara, a material frequently seen in sports car interiors. Subtly imprinted on the forefoot is a design reminding fans of vintage car vents while the heel features “KAR” branding. Seen on the sole of each shoe are the words “GAS” & “BRAKE” through a transparent crystal outsole. These are just a few details featured all over this special collaboration that show Kar’s attention to detail.

Dropping alongside the shoes is a collection of clothes and accessories including t-shirts, jackets, hats, socks and even a rug. A collaboration that is sure to be a hit with the racing community, it has been available since October 17^th. The Black pair is more widely available while the White pair is available exclusively via the L’Art de l’Automobile shop & The Broken Arm. Each pair is priced at €120. Let us know what you think of this recent collaboration & keep it locked in with Nice Kicks!