Image Credit: Vans
Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel brand, has teamed up with Los Angeles-based artist/illustrator and skateboarder Mike Gigliotti to deliver a new footwear and apparel collection launching June 4, 2021. The collection applies a gritty, skate-inspired aesthetic to a beloved classic: Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants.
The world’s No.1 skateboarding brand has teamed up with the world’s No. 1 sponge for a simplified, black and yellow palette, led by Vans Skate Slip-On, Skate Old Skool and Skate Sk8-Hi. Fans will immediately recognize Gigliotti’s legendary drawing style across all three silhouettes. Rather than re-drawing SpongeBob, Gigliotti maintained the original character while adding his own art and doodles to a newly created underwater world of skateboarding.
“Growing up drawing all the time and watching cartoons, I loved the cartoons with weirdos,” said Gigliotti. “SpongeBob is exactly that, in a good way! He’s hilarious and so are all the characters on the show. Being able to work together with Vans and SpongeBob is special to me— it’s a combination of my favorite things: skateboarding and drawing.”
The collection features Gigliotti’s drawings across the quarter panels of the Skate Sk8-Hi and Skate Old Skool, as well as the toe vamp and heel counter of the Skate Slip-On. A barbed wire and chain stretch across the Old Skool’s Sidestripe and the Sk8-Hi’s sidewall. Built extra tough, Vans Skate Classics feature Duracap for added flexibility and reduced hot spots, resulting in an essential fit for maximum durability where skaters need it most. Vans’ best-in-class PopCush energy-return footbeds snap back and won’t pack out, keeping legs feeling fresh to skate longer. Two-part foxing features a heavier knurl texture on toe bumpers, increasing durability and grip and nodding to a heritage look.
Image Credit: Vans
The collection also features Gigliotti’s signature doodles, including flames, flowers, barbed wire and chains overlaid across the original, untouched SpongeBob character, on several apparel pieces, including Vans Jump SS tee in black. A Skull LS tee in white and pullover in slate gray carry over Gigliotti’s skull drawing from the footwear collection, and barbed wire and chain along the sleeves.
Pulling artistic inspiration from skateboarding, classic movies and typography, Mike Gigliotti’s favorite medium is a scrap piece of paper and felt tip marker. Mike can typically be found drawing on anything in sight, and if you ask nicely, he may even draw on your shirt, pants, shoes or hat. Gigliotti has worked with Vans and other notable skate brands in the past, collaborating on a wide range of products with his original drawings.
The Vans x SpongeBob x Mike Gigliotti collection will be available June 4, 2021, online and at select Vans retail locations. For more information, visit Vans.com/skateboarding.
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