Key Takeaways:

• SZA has been named Vans’ first-ever creative director, marking a serious step in her style journey.
• Her inventive position contains co-creating and designing sneakers and attire.
• This transfer highlights how artists are more and more influencing the route of main style manufacturers.

SZA has conquered music, make-up, and now, she’s taking over footwear. On Thursday (Aug. 14), Vans named the “Snooze” artist as their first-ever creative director, with new designs coming “very soon.”

“In Vans, I feel free!” SZA mentioned in an announcement, paired with a video of her sporting the model’s Knu Skool in black and white. “They’ve always had an ethos I connect with,” she added of the basic silhouette. In her new position, she’ll be reimagining and steering the model’s upcoming campaigns.

Fans may count on her fingerprints on future collections, each for attire and sneakers. “As artistic director, my mission is to show that joy, community, creativity and fashion are all still intersectional. That humanity, culture and connection are still the access points,” the singer mentioned. Take a take a look at the clip under.

Speaking with Vogue, SZA defined why the partnership “makes so much sense” for each of them. “Skate culture is so paramount [to Vans], but the ethos of skate culture is what I think is beautiful,” she shared. “There is a lot of perseverance, trying and failing — a community that loves to take risks.”

Plus, anybody who’s adopted the Grammy Award-winning singer’s fashion is aware of she loves “very frilly or hyper-feminine things,” then balancing it out by “throwing on a dirty pair of Vans.” However, if the second requires it, she mentioned, “Wearing a clean, crispy pair of Vans feels like wearing a suit. I feel very pristine.”

For years, footwear has been one of many more profitable side hustles in music. Drake’s partnership with Nike birthed NOCTA, and Rihanna — whose enterprise strikes SZA seems to be echoing — has been steering PUMA as inventive director for a while.

Vans’ announcement comes recent off SZA finishing the European leg of the “Grand National Tour” with Kendrick Lamar.