Renowned artist Sterling Ruby deepens his creative partnership with OTW by Vans with their latest collaboration. The seven-piece collection, in collaboration with S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. showcases Ruby’s distinctive artistic vision while maintaining the authentic DNA of the California skatewear brand.
Ruby brings his signature artistic elements to four distinctive shoe silhouettes, including the Old Skool 36, Sk8-Hi 38 and Slip-On 98. The designs feature premium materials like goatskin collar linings and sustainably sourced American cotton, taking the traditional skate aesthetic to new heights.
“I’ve been photographing our family’s decomposing Jack O’Lanterns after Halloween for years. In an acceleration of life, they transform into fascinating abstractions. I love capturing these raw, unfiltered moments,” said Ruby of the inspiration behind the collection’s striking imagery.
The collaboration marks a significant progression from her previous release, moving from vibrant neon greens and oranges to sophisticated, deeper tones of green and gold. Each piece showcases meticulous attention to detail, from the glossy sidewalls to the meticulously crafted Vibram soles.
Punk band Mannequin Pussy features prominently in the campaign images, which were captured by photographer Nayquan Shuler during their performance of their latest release, “I Got Heaven,” at Orlando’s The Beacham in October 2024. Ruby personally selected the band, stating: “I’m a huge fan of Mannequin Pussy – their music is complex and multifaceted, they transition effortlessly from loud to soft, aggressive to melodic, pulling it all together seamlessly. I thought that they would embody the spirit of the collection in a perfect way.”
The apparel segment marks the first apparel offering from Vans and S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. collaboration, introduces three essential pieces: a t-shirt, long sleeve tee and hoodie. These items feature Ruby’s signature decomposing jack-o’-lantern graphics along with the provocative phrase “ABSOLUTE CONTEMPT FOR TOTAL SERENITY” – a reference to his ACTS sculpture series.
The collection is available now at otw.vans.com.