This May sees Vans Vault drop what may well be their most hotly anticipated drop of the season as the Californian skate kings join Forces with the eccentric and ever brilliant Imran Potato to rework 5 classic styles giving them a distinctive Imran Potato aesthetic.
Imran Potato is the brainchild of the entrepreneurial Imran Moosvi. Moosvi gained recognition for the 'bootleg' clothing projects he'd dream up whilst in college, often placing two highly recognisable brands together in often playful and exuberant styles. it wasn't long before Moosvi's work would garner the attention and interest of the rich, and famous and those with an eye for the inherently fun vibe of the work. Who could forget those feet shoes Jim Carrey stepped out in?!
For his debut Vault by Vans collection, Imran helps to reissue the KNU SKOOL VR3 LX, a model that pays homage to the early ‘90s skate-inspired footwear silhouette the brand first debuted in 1998 and later re-released via Vans Japan exclusively. For its latest iteration, Imran has taken the oversized DNA and further exaggerated its design specs to include all-over suede uppers with contrast stitching along with a quintessential 3D Sidestripe that protrudes from the quarter-panel. The KNU SKOOL has been updated with an overstuffed tongue, thick cotton laces and a custom printed Potato waffle sole. Available in three colorways including classic Black, and two all-over cheetah prints available in asphalt/black and golden glow/Bombay brown. To modernize the KNU SKOOL, the shoe’s suede panels are sourced from a top-rated LWG tannery for environmental responsibility. The silhouette is also a part of Vans VR3, representing the brands journey towards 100% regenerative, responsibly sourced renewable and recycled materials for the brands top four materials by 2030. The silhouette is also equipped with an EVA foam EcoCush™ footbed derived partially from sugarcane and an EcoWaffle™ rubber outsole that was obtained from sources that follow proven sustainable practices with the intention of reducing impacts on the planet.
The Vans Vault x Imran Potato Collection launches at HANON via an ONLINE Raffle. Please note this raffle has now closed. Any remaining stock will be available ONLINE; 23:00 BST Thursday 19th May. 
“The KNU SKOOL is the best sneaker silhouette of all time. It’s the shoe I always wanted but couldn’t get because of its mystery—the ultimate unattainable eBay shoe,” said Imran. “The Vault team literally opened the vault for me, and I can’t thank them enough for that. This collaboration is a dream come true, and my most important work to date.”
A brace of SK8-HI® VR3 LX’s rounds out the Vault by Vans x Imran Potato collection. The designs keep the iconic elements of the hi-top while featuring primitively drawn human hands on the side panels and tongues. The concept is an inspired evolution of the viral and satirically comical Potato Caveman Slippers.
