Vans Collaborates With Chinese Artist Zhao Zhao For “Year Of The Rat” Collection

Vans is joining in on the Chinese New Year celebrations with its own “Year of the Rat” collection co-created with Chinese artist Zhao Zhao (赵赵). Known for addressing the reality of life in China, the Beijing-based multi-hyphenate has helped depict the adventurous spirit of the underground rodent across five of the California-institution’s models: Sk8-Hi, Old Skool, Era, “Era Lacey,” and “Slip-Skool.”

The tallest silhouette of the bunch sets the stage for the street dwellers via additional side-stripes meant to resemble rat tunnels. Elsewhere on this Sk8-Hi, drab greys cover the suede uppers, which sit atop a black midsole and transparent waffle-outsole. Keeping with the mousy palette, both the Old Skool and Era don various shades of grey across their uppers, with the latter silhouette opting for a much more monotone look. The ’77 model – which debuted the iconic Vans sidestripe – features a couple of playful nods to its hairy muse by way of gradient patches on the heel – meant to depict the entrance of a rat tunnel – and a pink waffle sole.

Rounding out the collection with more than one deviation, the “Era Lacey” – an Era with double-lace design – and the part-Slip-on, part-Old-Skool “Slip-Skool” use checkered and geometric patterns, respectively, to represent a rat’s dynamic life in a dense city. Lastly, Zhao and Vans have created a special “Off the Wall” logo, featuring a rat tail, for the heel tab on all five of these models.

As of right now, only Japanese retailers like BILLY’S TOKYO are dropping the entire pack on December 31st, but there may be a chance that we see this Vans “Year of the Rat” collection stateside. Until then, grab a look at the shoes here below and stay tuned for more information.

UPDATE: Select models from this collection are currently available at online retailer HBX. Check below for details.