The Wasted Talent × Vans collaboration brought the surf and skate publication’s European identity to a footwear collection inspired by Lake Como, aperitivo culture and the idea of La Dolce Vita.

Working closely with the Wasted Talent team, I helped translate their deliberately understated aesthetic across the Sk8-Hi and Classic Slip-On. The collection used a restrained, tonal palette with details including dimensional Wasted Talent embroidery, subtle debossed branding and a rubber toe cap on the Slip-On, balancing premium detailing with the functionality of Vans skate footwear.

The footwear story also extended beyond traditional sneakers with a Vans surf boot, connecting the collaboration back to Wasted Talent’s roots in European surf culture.