OTW by Vans x UNDERCOVER debut two icons reworked with Baqué’s creatures and Takahashi’s Jack Russell sketches.
Summary
- OTW by Vans and UNDERCOVER release two new silhouettes: the Old Skool 36 and the Era 95.
- The Old Skool 36 references Josep Baqué’s archival drawings of imaginary creatures.
- The Era 95 features embroidered Jack Russell terriers drawn by Jun Takahashi himself.
OTW by Vans continues its series of artist-driven projects with UNDERCOVER, the Tokyo label founded by Jun Takahashi. The collaboration focuses on two core silhouettes, the Old Skool 36 and the Era 95, reinterpreted through art and personal narrative.
The Old Skool 36 draws on the work of Josep Baqué, a Barcelona police officer who spent decades illustrating surreal hybrids of humans, animals, and insects. His archive of drawings now appears across the shoe’s black canvas upper, paired with reflective Jazz Stripes and understated co-branding.
The Era 95 moves from fantasy to something more personal. Takahashi embroidered his own Jack Russell terriers across white canvas, surrounding them with grass and the UNDERCOVER logo. It keeps the silhouette’s padded collar and waffle outsole intact, with design details that speak directly to the designer’s world.
Both pairs show how a simple canvas sneaker can carry complex ideas. Instead of pushing toward reinvention, the collaboration leans on storytelling, using print and embroidery to bridge skate history and individual expression.
The OTW by Vans x UNDERCOVER collection releases October 29 on vans.com/otw and through select UNDERCOVER retailers. Prices start at approximately $120 USD for the Era 95 and $135 USD for the Old Skool 36.
