SZA made a powerful Paris Fashion Week statement by debuting a series of custom Vans sneakers designed by emerging New York jewelry artist Rachel Goatley during Pharrell Williams’ latest Louis Vuitton men’s runway show. The moment marked SZA’s first major fashion appearance since being named Vans’ new artistic director — and it couldn’t have been more intentional.
Seated front row at the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2026 menswear presentation, the Grammy-winning artist revealed a one-of-one sneaker collaboration that blends luxury craftsmanship with classic streetwear silhouettes. The centerpiece of the debut was the Vans Authentic 44 “Ladybug Garden”, a custom-made pair created exclusively for SZA.
The Ladybug Garden Vans feature a clean white canvas base layered with hand-set gemstones in rich tones, including citrine, pink sapphire, emerald, peridot, and orange topaz. Gold rectangular lace tags stamped with a custom “VANSZA” logo completed the look — a subtle but powerful branding moment that positions SZA as more than just a celebrity collaborator.
Rachel Goatley, a self-taught jewelry designer and longtime creative partner at Greg Yuna New York, brought her fine-jewelry background into the sneaker world by transforming four classic Vans models into wearable art. Each pair was handcrafted using sterling silver enamel lace locks, yellow-gold plating, and a curated mix of sapphires, opals, diamonds, malachite, moonstone, and quartz.
Beyond the Ladybug Garden, Goatley expanded the collection across two core Vans silhouettes: the Authentic 44 and Old Skool 36.
One standout design, titled “Radiance,” reimagines the Old Skool 36 in a deep black colorway accented with silver hardware, diamond inlays, and opal gemstones across the toe box. Another version, “Camo/Earth,” arrives in a muted gray tone featuring smoky topaz, chocolate diamonds, emerald, malachite, star sapphire, pearl, and moonstone — giving the shoe a grounded, almost spiritual aesthetic.
The most symbolic pair, “Temperature CTRL,” draws inspiration from SZA’s 2017 breakout album CTRL. Built on the Authentic 44 silhouette in navy blue, the design features mismatched gemstone compositions: one shoe decorated in warm yellow stones and gold accents, the other finished with cool silver hardware and blue sapphires. The contrast reflects the emotional duality that defined the album itself.
SZA is expected to continue showcasing the custom Vans sneakers throughout Paris Fashion Week while hosting community pop-ups, giveaways, and creative activations with the brand. The debut follows Vans’ August announcement naming SZA as its first-ever artistic director — launching a multi-year creative partnership aimed at reshaping the brand’s cultural identity.
Rather than leaning into hype-driven drops, this collaboration positions Vans at the intersection of luxury design, music culture, and streetwear storytelling — with SZA acting as both muse and architect of the brand’s next era.
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