Activism Matters: Vans Steps Up for Black Artists
Feb 17, 2021
The iconic brand Vans has carved out a unique place in fashion history by supporting the cultural profile of skaters, rockers and others who might otherwise go unnoticed. In the process, though, racial representation has been neglected. Now, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, the company is making a new effort to reach out and do its part raise the voices of Black artists and professionals.
Making a wider space for racial representation
Since its beginnings in 1966, Vans has been associated with a side of youth culture and creative expression that is dominated by white males. The company’s connection with skateboarding and BMX is legendary, and its sponsorship of the long running Warped Tour has earned it a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These fields are not exclusionary, but the overall effect has been to wash diversity into the backwaters of cultural phenomena.
Vans Is Giving Black Artists a New Creative Platform 10 February
Vans has teamed up with four stellar Black artists in honor of Black History Month. There s Rewina Beshue, a San Fran-based multimedia artist who often explores optical illusions; Sydney G. James, a muralist from Detroit whose art focuses on Black women in America; Chris Martin, an artist that examines the African Diaspora and southern history; and Tony Whlgn, creator of the Whlgn®, a design firm in Detroit.
Every week this month, Vans will feature a new artist, sharing their stories and promoting their custom designs, which are available to purchase now. Also, the brand is donating $40,000 to the Black Art Features Fund, aiding in grant support for small community-based Black arts organizations across the US.