Vaquera partners with Nike and Converse to reimagine the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star through two new silhouettes: the XXXHi Slouch Wedge and the XHi Slouch Wedge. Introduced during Vaquera’s Fall 2025 presentation in Paris, the collaboration redefines the sneaker’s proportions and material structure while maintaining its recognizable design language.
Bryn Taubensee, Vaquera co-founder, describes the concept as transforming the familiar into something unexpected. The design keeps key details of the Chuck, such as the canvas body and patch, while eliminating the laces and exaggerating the upper. Both versions feature hidden wedge soles and soft synthetic waxed canvas that naturally patinas over time. The XXXHi rises above the knee, while the XHi rests just below, creating a sculptural silhouette that plays with height and volume.
The collaboration explores the relationship between nostalgia and experimentation. Vaquera’s irreverent sensibility, rooted in playfulness and social commentary, finds expression in these slouched constructions. The focus on exaggerated form and fluid structure mirrors the label’s approach to fashion as both critique and creative release.
This project also marks the beginning of a wider partnership between Nike, Inc. and Vaquera. The next release introduces the Nike Air Max Dn8 covered in kiss marks, an emblem of Vaquera’s recurring theme of romance and rebellion. Co-founder Patric DiCaprio describes it as a playful gesture that integrates emotion with Nike’s technical innovation in Dynamic Air technology.
Since its early days, Vaquera has built a reputation for turning irony into identity. The brand’s early experiments,such as viral pillow dresses and DIY-inspired tailoring, have grown into a distinctive Paris-based practice supported by Dover Street Market. Each collection functions as both fashion commentary and pop-cultural storytelling, capturing a generation that values wit and emotional tension in equal measure.
The Converse x Vaquera XXXHi and XHi Slouch Wedge released globally on November 8 through vaquera.nyc and Dover Street Market, with a wider rollout set for November 11 via converse.com, SNKRS, and select retailers. The Nike x Vaquera Air Max Dn8 will debut in December, extending the collaboration’s exploration of sport, emotion, and subversion.
