Kanye Kicks Vans Collabo Rumors Back In Gear

A few months ago, September to be precise, we heard from one of our sneaker boutique connects that a Vans and Kanye West collaboration was in the works. A second very well connected boutique owner we contacted about the rumor said he, too, had heard about it, but had dismissed it, saying, “I doubt there’s any truth to that.” Unable to confirm the news with a second source we left it alone.

Fast forward to January and that first source maintains a collabo is coming; meanwhile Ye has added fuel to the fire with his recently released single “No More Parties in L.A,” which includes the lyrics (see below): “Somedays I’m in my Yeezys, somedays I’m in my Vans.” Supporting his assertion, Ye was shot arriving in LAX a few days ago wearing a pair of black Vans Full Cab. To drive home the point in case anyone missed it, yesterday he Tweeted an image (above) in which his shoes of choice, yep, is that same pair of Vans Full Cab.

Of course West wearing Vans doesn’t necessarily mean he’s working with Vans. It is entirely plausible that he balked at any contractual language stipulating what he can and cannot wear on a day to day basis. Obviously he doesn’t want to literally shoot himself in the foot by currying too much favor with an Adidas competitor, but hey, a pinch here and there can’t hurt.

On the other hand, it’s also possible his contract allows him to do one-off collaborations with other brands. We’ve saw evidence his connection with Adidas is fluid when it was announced just prior to his Yeezy Season 2 presentation that Yeezy apparel would no longer be made by Adidas.

And by the way, just to toss some more wood in the Vans collaborative fire, this isn’t the first time West has been spotted in the iconic skateboard brand since he started working with Adidas. Back in fall when the rumor first began to circulate, he was also shot wearing a pair of Classic slip-ons (see below).

Weighing all sides, given West better than anyone knows the power of his sartorial choices, all his Vans-related statements are starting to feel like a little more than just happenstance choices.