Vans names SZA first-ever artistic director for multiyear partnership

Vans has named SZA its first-ever artistic director, launching a multiyear partnership that will have the Grammy-winning musician reimagining campaigns and co-creating exclusive product collections. The announcement comes as SZA continues to tour with Kendrick Lamar on the Grand National Tour and after high-profile appearances earlier in the year, signaling a deeper push into fashion and footwear that blends her creative voice with the brand’s skate-culture heritage.

The collaboration centers on campaigns and limited-edition sneakers and apparel, with SZA taking a hands-on role in shaping future silhouettes and color stories. Her debut campaign spotlights the iconic Knu Skool sneaker, first released in 1997 and redesigned in subsequent years. The black-and-white version is photographed in the Scottish Highlands and reflects Vans’s roots in outdoor and youth culture while inviting a broader audience to engage with the label. The shoes carry a retail price of 80, and the imagery is paired with SZA’s own narration about the brand’s ethos and her mission for the partnership.

In statements accompanying the rollout, SZA articulated a vision of inclusivity and shared humanity. “In...