Vans is proud to announce the Vans Skateboarding x Daniel Johnston Collection in partnership with the nonprofit Hi, How Are You Project to raise awareness and resources for mental health. Working directly with Johnston’s friends and family, and the nonprofit organization founded in his honor, Vans was inspired to create a head-to-toe collection celebrating the artist and musician’s work as a mental health advocate and his iconic cassette-tape artwork.
As an advocate for creative expression, Vans believes in the power of skateboarding as a creative outlet and the profound impact it can have on mental wellbeing. The Vans Skateboarding x Daniel Johnston collection reinforces this sentiment, featuring some of the original and well-recognized hand drawn illustrations that Johnston created for his early cassette tapes, and then handed out to friends and strangers to uplift and inspire. The artwork on the shoes features a Checkerboard created from these drawings, as well as the same lo-fi, gritty execution from his art.
The Skate SK8-Hi® in raven features Johnston’s classic hand-drawn cassette covers collaged as a custom Vans’ Checkerboard pattern on the quarter. The Skate Authentic™ in antique white and Skate Slip-on in raven are each accompanied by the musician’s signature illustrations in black and white, with Johnston’s most notable character, Jeremiah the Frog, and his most recognized album, “Hi, How Are You” printed across the sidewall and upper. All silhouettes in the collection include DURACAP™ reinforced materials for added durability and PopCush™ energy-return footbeds.
Johnston’s illustrations carry over to the Vans x Daniel Johnston Authentic Chino Loose Pant in antique white featuring an allover black graphic print of Johnston’s artwork. A woven Vans x Daniel Johnston camp shirt with a monochromatic Checkerboard pattern of his artwork calls out some of his most iconic albums like “Respect” and “Don’t Be Scared.” The collection is rounded out with the Respect tee and pullover hoodie in black, the Vans x Daniel Johnston long sleeve Off The Wall tee and crew socks in pale banana, and an unstructured tote bag prominently featuring Jeremiah the Frog.
Daniel Johnston was a key figure in the alternative lo-fi music scene, influencing bands such as Dead Milkman, Yo La Tengo, and the Velvet Underground. The subject of the 2005 documentary “The Devil and Daniel Johnston,” he was an ambassador for mental wellness and the inspiration for the Hi, How Are You Project. Vans is proud to unveil this collection to inspire new conversations around mental health, and uplift Daniel’s legacy and his passion for art and music.
The Vans x Daniel Johnston Collection is now available at Vans Skateboarding retailers and at Vans.eu/Skateboarding. For more information about the Hi, How Are You Project, visit HiHowAreYou.org.
