The Vans × WP collaboration celebrated the long-standing relationship between Vans and WP, one of the first companies to import Vans into Europe. The project paid tribute to Vans’ original Anaheim factory while exploring the unique role WP played in establishing the brand’s presence in Italy over the past four decades.

The design process began with a visit to the WP headquarters in Bologna, where I spent time exploring their archive of original Vans catalogues, handwritten order books, fabric swatches and faxes exchanged with the Van Doren family during the 1980s. Rather than simply drawing inspiration from the archive, I worked directly from it, meticulously redrawing an original paisley patchwork fabric swatch to preserve its character while preparing it for modern production.

Beyond the footwear, I collaborated on an accompanying apparel collection inspired by garments that WP had designed under the Vans name during the 1980s. I also designed the packaging, recreating the appearance of the stock boxes historically used by WP stores, complete with handwritten style information to give the impression that each pair had just been pulled from the stockroom. Every element of the collection was intended to celebrate the shared history between Vans and WP while presenting it through a contemporary lens.