The First-Ever Filipino Designed Vans Are Dropping in Stores This Friday

The first-ever Vans to be designed by a local Filipino artist are dropping this Friday, November 15, in selected Vans stores in the country. The artist at the center of all this buzz? Nikko Pelaez, a talented young painter who’s exhibited his works at places like ManilArt 2019 and R Gallery.
The limited edition sneakers, which drop this Friday, are the same designs that won Palaez the top prize in the Vans Asia Custom Culture 2018 competition. Here’s a closer look at the kicks that Palaez designed back in 2018:
Palaez also happens to be the very same artist who was commissioned by Vans to design the one-of-a-kind Batang Maynila custom shoe series that included the viral Yorme sneaks. Here are a couple more designs of his (we hope Vans also mass produces these).
If it wasn’t already obvious, this artist isn’t just going places—he’s already there. And we’re already stoked for his future projects.