The rapper A$AP Rocky, besides being the greatest MC, “Master of Ceremonies,” in existence, has also made a name for himself in the world of fashion as one of the most important fashion influencers and trendsetters. When he’s not flaunting delicious custom Prada, Louis Vuitton outfits, or vintage Raf Simons, he catches the eye of emerging designers like Maximilian, ERL, and Stefan Cooke. He’s the “Fashion Killa” of rap, to quote one of his famous tracks. It’s no surprise then that A$AP, compared to most other hip-hop artists, is the one who has done the most collaborations with top brands, including one with Guess, the 90s legend, another with the conceptual streetwear label Marine Serre, then one stemming from his encounter with the British brand JW Anderson and the latest, ongoing, with Vans and Los Angeles retailer PacSun.
Pacsun
Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Athelaston Mayers, has been collaborating with PacSun, Pacific Sunwear of California Inc, since July 2021. PacSun is a clothing label deeply rooted in the aesthetic reality of Southern California: think plaid shirts, band-themed t-shirts, and beach tank tops. He is the first guest artistic director of the brand, a role that gives him full control over all the collaborations and campaigns of the label. So far, he has designed four pairs of fiery slipper and slip-on sneakers in collaboration with the Californian brand Vans, which, as Rocky himself stated in September 2021 to the US edition of AllInReplica, saw him “completely reinvent the Slip-Ons.” All the models sold out immediately. The collaboration between A$AP and PacSun has been low-key in recent months, but the 33-year-old musician and designer has been seen on a couple of occasions, firstly with Rihanna and secondly during a Black Lives Matter march, wearing a version of the Vans’ Old Skool with his characteristic flame tongues. The white and black canvas sneakers feature elongated tips that bear both the Vans logo and “A$AP Worldwide,” could they be the next collaborative release? Today, the artist who gifted the music world with an album like Long Live A$AP has confirmed the arrival of the sneakers on the shelves after a countdown on Instagram.
At the moment, we can say they are the hottest sneakers on the market, but even if they are available at PacSun, don’t expect to be able to take advantage of the opportunity to get a pair for too long, especially because the price will be around 80 euros and, as with Rocky’s previous models, they will soon be sold out.