The legendary Californian brand VANS regularly presents us with attractive collaborations with other streetwear icons. After working with designer Joe Freshgoods or the Berlin skate shop Civilist, the famous West Coast label offers us a collection imagined with MAMI WATA, a brand that participates in the development of surfing in Africa.
Founded in 2017, MAMI WATA‘s mission is to be a creative force for Africa. It aims to spread a different image of surfing and Africa to the rest of the world, to inform about the positive effects of this sport and share them universally.
It designs and manufactures its high-end clothing, surfboards and accessories in Africa, to create jobs and strengthen the economy. The brand uses a maximum of local materials, such as African cotton, and sustainable materials to preserve nature and its resources. Mami Wata is also committed to supporting African surf therapy organizations and seeks to develop this sport tourism on the continent.
This exclusive Mami Wata x Vans collection draws its inspiration from Africa’s long history of original and important cultural events. Internationally known, these moments of sharing have united people from around the world, from Zaire’s « Rumble in the Jungle » in 1974 to Nigeria’s « Festac’77 » to Lagos’ annual « Felebration ».
The collaborative capsule takes the bold and special imagery of these events, to redesign the famous VANS checkerboard print.
The Vans Authentic VR3, Sk8-Hi 138 Decon VR3 SF and Style 36 Decon VR3 SF collaborative are presented in a Mami Wata Cream colorway, with black and white accents. They contain one or a combination of regenerated, responsibly sourced, renewable or recycled materials. The uppers include organic cotton and/or leather from responsible manufacturing in collaboration with Leather Working Group. These sneakers are adorned with woven and colored co-branding patches. They also benefit from an outsole embellished with Vans’ brand new VR3Waffle™ rubber component, a natural and regenerated rubber drawn from farms adopting agricultural techniques thought to promote biodiversity, improve water cycles and soil health and/or sequester carbon.
The sneakers are accompanied by a capsule of matching apparel featuring the checkerboard pattern and details inspired by traditional hand-woven African fabrics. It consists of a hoodie, 2 t-shirts, a printed shirt, swim shorts and a cap. Most of these pieces feature a logo patch with the co-branding and the special mention ‘Power of African Surf’.
The Mami Wata x Vans collection is available at select retailers and on partner websites vans.com and mamiwatasurf.com. Let’s go !
