Cocona Hiraki Brings Charms And Corduroy To Her Vans Old Skool Sequel

In a similar way to Nike SB’s second apex during the 2020s, the collaborative efforts and special edition colorways can sometimes take away from the fact that, at their core, Vans remains a skate brand through and through. To their credit, spotlighting figures like Travis Barker or Crenshaw Skate Club every so often reminds us of their bread and butter, but none serve that purpose better than when they reach for their roster of sponsored athletes.

As part of the “New Future” collection, Vans reached for the talents of silver medal-winner Cocona Hiraki as part of a campaign spotlighting rising talents under their umbrella. Peers like Karina Rozunko and Efron Danzig were transformative in their takes on the Old Skool, but Cocona chose to draw inside the lines, keeping the overall silhouette constant but going experimental in the spaces between: corduroy materiality, checkerboard laces, doodle-like embroidery, and a wealth of charm attachments.

About a year later, her series on the Old Skool continues with a nocturnal flip on the same foundation. All of those aforementioned touches remain in place, but a subtle black/white palette replaces the cream/olive one from the “New Future” endeavor. Trust that her handiwork is well represented by the brand as well, as her signature on the insoles pairs with wobbly “Off The Wall” text around the collar, highlighting the two principals that made this creative product possible.

The Cocona Hiraki Vans Old Skool in both this new black colorway and last year’s “Beige” colorway is available now via Vans.com, retailing for $120 apiece. Catch official images of both below; hit the links under the respective “Where To Buy” widgets to grab yours.