Vans has launched a new collaboration with pro skateboarder Lizzie Armanto. Given Vans’ more than 50-year-old history leading the skateboarding brand market and Lizzie’s inspiring and groundbreaking career this match seems like a no-brainer.
Vans and Armanto came together to develop her first signature skateboarding shoe, focusing on how it could be designed to help in progressing her athletic career. With this, they’ve given us “The Lizzie,” a shoe that gives skateboarders a completely new experience. It is also the first signature skateboarding shoe designed by a woman in 20 years (here’s to hoping the next one won’t take another 20).
Lizzie collaborated closely with Vans’ Innovation and Product Development teams to create a performance-fit made from a 3D scan of her feet. This leads to a shoe that fully reflects her, forming a slimmer fit molded to her foot shape.
Other changes made include using a thinner outsole for more flexibility and better board feel, and a lower profile footbed, because the classic impact cushioning made Lizzie feel as if she was floating over her board.
The shoe also has a new vulcanized build, with a smaller sidewall foxing tape, an exposed radiused outsole edge, and flex grooves for a comfortable and broken-in feeling. It has a better grip due to the improved micro-waffle tread and Sick-Stick™ rubber.
“I really enjoyed the process of creating a shoe from the ground up,” Lizzie said. “I felt compelled to make a shoe that is simple, functional, feels good on your feet and has a bit of soul, and feel proud of what we were able to accomplish.”
“The Lizzie” was developed with Armanto’s passion for the planet’s conservation at the root of the process. It follows rigorous footwear materials guidelines for the largest elements and was produced to have a smaller carbon footprint than the brands’ canvas shoes. These measures mean it has received the Vans VR3 Checkerboard Globe designation, the brand’s in-house sustainability accreditation tool.
The shoe’s composition consists of organic cotton, natural rubber and biobased foam. It also features suede across the entire shoe that originates from Leather Working Group tanneries that have been rated gold or silver with respect to environmental responsibility.
“I feel very connected to nature, and I’m stoked that my shoe could bring me even closer to it,” added Armanto. “I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to include sustainable materials and practices as much as possible throughout the entire process. It means a lot to me that Vans’ design team went the extra mile to make this happen.”
It has minimal details, simply boasting Lizzie’s signature initials on the outside tongue label and her first and last name on the underside of the heel flaps. Besides the new sneakers, the full collection includes a variety of pieces and accessories, from workwear-inspired vests and skate chinos to mini tees and embroidered crew socks.
The Lizzie and accompanying clothing collection are now available on the Vans website.