Echoes of Empty Pools was part of my wider exploration of the Vans Authentic, alongside concepts such as Nocturnal and Art in Progress. The story looked back to 1970s California, when skateboarders transformed empty swimming pools into something entirely new, helping shape the foundations of modern skateboarding.
The collection focused on the surfaces, colours and atmosphere of these abandoned spaces. Gradient prints referenced sun-faded concrete and the shifting blues of empty pools, while additional heel stitching echoed the flowing lines of pool and skatepark architecture. Star graphics represented the spark of possibility, the moment a skater looks at an empty space and sees something to skate.
The concept was developed across three Authentic colourways and presented through a dedicated zine as part of the wider Authentic sales story.