Vans Kicks Off LA Art Week with Skateboarding Installation and Collection in Collaboration with Sterling Ruby’s S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA.
Frieze LA, OTW by Vans and S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA., the clothing and accessory collection by American artist Sterling Ruby, redefined the event experience. The moment in Downtown Los Angeles merged skateboarding, design and art for one-night-only, celebrating the communities that push culture forward.
Attendees were the first to view Vans’ skateable installation, designed by PLAYLAB, INC., in collaboration with Sterling Ruby. A recreation of the steep incline hills made famous by San Francisco skateboarding, the temporary monument set the stage for a night of musical performances by SALEM and Paris Texas, a DJ set by Ty, and a live skate exhibition by Vans athletes including Curren Caples, Efron Danzig, Elijah Berle, Nick Michel, Roman Pabich, Rowan Zorilla, and Zion Wright.
Alongside Bracken Darrell, President and CEO of VF Corporation, Drieke Leenknegt, Global CMO of Vans, and Ian Ginoza, VP of Creative Direction for OTW by Vans, guests included Sterling Ruby, Charles Melton, Sky Ferreira, Rafferty Law, Landon Barker, Deb Never, Kilo Kish, Kelsey Lu, Delfin Finley, Easy Otabor, Bella Poarch, Tony Alva, Kunichi Nomura, Eyedress, Leo Reilly, Ganna Bogdan, Simona Kunst, Jack Donoghue, Louie Pastel, Felix, Lizzie Armanto, Beatrice Domond, Atiba Jefferson, Ako Jefferson, Gabrielle Richardson, Jan Gatewood, Arrow de Wilde, Caroline Ricke, Melanie Schiff, Ella Snyder, Whitmer Thomas, Anders Holm, Tavia Bonetti, Shane Gonzalez, Alex “2Tone” Erdmann, Pat Tenore, Sandy Kim, Julian Klincewicz, Daria Kobayashi Ritch, Don “Nuge” Nguyen, Giovanna Ramos, Geoff Rowley, Alex Papke, Young Ji Lee, Simona Kust, and Becky Akinyode.
Earlier in the week, on Monday, February 26, Vans and Sterling Ruby hosted an intimate dinner at the opening night of French food collective WE ARE ONA's Los Angeles pop-up, with a menu by French Chef Valentin Raffali.
OTW by Vans x S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. will be available in limited quantities through a curated selection of global wholesale partners, beginning Thursday, February 29, at 9am PST/12pm EST. Additional releases across footwear and apparel will follow in the coming seasons, with a second drop arriving before the end of 2024.
