Valentino infiltrates skateboarding with Vans

Alessandro Michele has designed a total of six brand new models of the Slip-On silhouette.

Following the success of their first collaboration last autumn, Vans and Valentino are joining forces once again for Cruise 2026, but this time putting their stamp on one of the most recognisable icons of skate culture: the 1977 Vans Classic Slip-On.

Under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele, the model is transformed into a collector’s item where Roman tradition, maximalism and urban culture dialogue in perfect harmony. The creative director of the Italian fashion house takes this essential silhouette—comfortable and functional—and elevates it from the pavement to the realm of high fashion.

The classic checkerboard print serves as the starting point for an explosion of visual codes: VLogo Signature motifs, intense colour palettes and a clear commitment to ornamentation. Among the most striking designs is the return of Le Chat, the feline illustration that has become one of Valentino‘s most whimsical symbols. Added to this are new ideas such as the vibrant and provocative Cherryflic print and the exuberant Tropical Leaves, an ode to the eclecticism that defines the Maison’s new era.

The campaign, created by artist Parra, features a surrealist video that explores the intersection between haute couture and streetwear. A visual narrative that plays with the absurd, the artistic and the everyday.