Vans and Rhude channel their California heritage in latest sneaker collaboration

The upcoming Vans x Rhude collaboration takes on the retro Bold NI silhouette in three classic colorways.

The first two colorways, black and blue, dropped on October 26. The final racing red iteration will arrive later in the year.

Any collaboration between skate giants Vans and luxury streetwear label Rhude is sure to turn heads. Both Californian brands have a reach that extends worldwide, but for this fitting partnership, they’ve looked closer to home for inspiration. The Vans x Rhude collaboration takes on the former’s retro Bold NI silhouette, reinterpreted with a touch of Californian history. Here’s a closer look.

The most prominent marker on the Vans x Rhude Bold NI is the all-over branding on the rubber midsoles. A lot of inspiration for the sneakers’ finer details bring to mind Californian license plates, with Rhude branding in place of plate numbers. Each sneaker features the oversized sidestripes in white leather, and Van’s UltraCush Lite drop-in footbed for elevated comfort.

Rhude design director Rhuigi Villaseñor, who grew up amid the skate scene in Los Angeles, gave further insight into the design choices. “Vans has a unique history and connection with youth culture which is why I was so excited to push those creative boundaries with this collaboration. From a design standpoint, the colorways I chose are an homage to my love of iconic, classic cars – blue to represent the Mercedes 280 SL, red for the Ferrari 275, and black for the Porsche Carrera,” he said.

Cop the Vans x Rhude Bold NI available in blue and black colorways, which hit stores on October 26. But you’d have to wait a tad longer for the red iteration which is scheduled to launch on November 23.

Where to buy:
END, rh-ude.com, vans.com/rhude, and select retail locations

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