OTW by Vans and Sterling Ruby’s S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. return with a fresh collaboration that places design experimentation at the forefront. The collection introduces the FUTURE CLOG, a hybrid silhouette that reinterprets the traditional Dutch clog through Sterling Ruby’s lens. Campaign visuals by Noua Unu Studio and Sarah Conaway frame the collection in imagery that underscores its balance of function and form.
The FUTURE CLOG sits as the centerpiece of the collaboration. The design brings together two familiar footwear shapes: an organic mule and a sculptural Dutch clog. The result is a shoe that pushes boundaries while referencing tradition. Its form illustrates Ruby’s interest in creating work that links personal memory with contemporary design. By reshaping a utilitarian style into a progressive silhouette, the FUTURE CLOG becomes both a functional shoe and a conceptual statement within the collection.
Alongside the FUTURE CLOG, OTW by Vans and S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. deliver updated versions of the Old Skool and Authentic. These Vans icons carry Sterling Ruby’s distinctive vision while retaining their recognizable forms. The footwear is supported by apparel and accessories that extend the collection’s character into everyday wear. The apparel pieces arrive in marbled yellow tones, drawing attention through bold graphics and co-branded details. A hockey jersey, travel bag, and socks round out the offering, giving the drop a complete head-to-toe direction.
Sterling Ruby grounds the project in his personal history. He draws inspiration from his family ties to the Netherlands, referencing the wooden clogs worn by his grandfather while working in his shop. Those clogs, painted in vivid green, became both a memory and a reference point for Ruby’s reinterpretation. In creating the FUTURE CLOG, he sought to honor the Dutch clog as a cultural object while developing a form that pushes the design into the future. His words describe the balance he aimed for: a shape that respects its roots while introducing something entirely new.
The collaboration frames footwear as both personal and cultural expression. By placing the FUTURE CLOG at its center, OTW by Vans and S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. expand the language of what Vans can represent. It demonstrates how footwear can shift from everyday function into a site of experimentation without losing wearability.
The OTW by Vans x S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA. collection is available through Vans online, with prices ranging from 20 to 200 USD. By combining Ruby’s perspective with Vans’ history, the project introduces a collection that feels grounded in personal narrative while expanding the scope of Vans’ collaborative direction.
