Vansza is SZA's first collection as Vans' Artistic Director, unveiled around New York Fashion Week in September 2026.

When does Vansza Drop 1 release?

Drop 1 lands on 22 October 2026, headlined by the Knu Skool Mule and the Authentic Kickdown.

How much does Vansza Drop 1 cost in the UK?

The Knu Skool Mule retails for £75 and the Authentic Kickdown for £85.

Where can I buy Vansza?

Drop 1 releases via Vans and in Vans stores. Keep an eye on our release calendar for further stockists.

What's coming in Vansza Drop 2?

Vans previewed a camo Knu Skool and a brand new hiking shoe with a Tabi toe at its NYFW presentation. Drop 2 is expected in spring 2027; no release date or price yet.

SZA's Heel-Stepping Habit Shaped Vansza Drop 1, and the Campaign Is Here

2026-10-15T14:15:10

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Maren

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Update, 15 October 2026 – With exactly a week to go, Vans has pulled the wraps off the campaign for Vansza Drop 1, and this time SZA isn't staying behind the scenes.

She fronts the shoot herself, joined by Vans skater Zion Wright, models Caylee Blosenski and Isabella Carr, and her niece Savannah Rowe, all captured by photographer India Sleem out in California's rugged backcountry.

Vans

The easy on, easy off theme running through the collection has a pretty relatable backstory. SZA has been treading on the backs of her shoes for as long as she can remember, much to her mum's annoyance. "So I put the design aspect in my shoes," she explains. "I created a step-down shoe, and then I took the whole back off the Knu Skool because, why not? Less effort. More fun."

Vans Knu Skool Mule

Vans

The heel's gone completely, turning the puffy Knu Skool into a proper slip-on. Black suede and the 3D side stripe keep things familiar, while Sage Adams' watercolour artwork sits on the footbed. It'll set you back £75.

Vans Authentic Kickdown

Vans

The Authentic gets a lived-in finish with distressed white canvas and more Sage Adams artwork, plus a collapsible heel so you can wear it laced up or kicked down. Retail is £85.

Look closely and you'll spot fish and insects creeping across both the footwear and the apparel, which rounds things off with oversized workwear jackets, relaxed cargos and fish-graphic tees.

Vans

The Drop

Vansza Drop 1 lands on 22 October 2026 via Vans and in Vans stores.

Be sure to follow the Drop Date release calendar to stay up to date on all the latest drops.

SZA's First Vans Collection Is Here: Meet Vansza

Originally posted on 14 September 2026

SZA isn't just making music these days. She's Vans' Artistic Director now, and this week she pulled back the curtain on her first collection: Vansza. Drop 1 touches down October 22, and it's built around two cult classics getting a proper reworking.

Vans Knu Skool Mule from the Vansza collection

Vansza campaign visual with the Knu Skool Mule

What's actually in the box

First up: the Knu Skool Mule (VN00119WBA2). It ditches the heel entirely and turns the chunky skate silhouette into a slip-on, but keeps the exaggerated, oversized proportions the Knu Skool is known for up front.

Then there's the Authentic Kickdown (VN00115AWHT): distressed canvas, custom artwork from artist Sage Adams, and a collapsible heel so it doubles as a mule when you can't be bothered.

Vans Authentic Kickdown with Sage Adams artwork from the Vansza collection

It's not just footwear either. Drop 1 brings a full apparel lineup: a denim jacket, cargo-heavy pants with a genuinely excessive number of pockets, an oversized short, and a fleece set with a trompe l'oeil print. Vans says the whole collection is built around how SZA actually dresses off-duty, which explains why beat-up canvas, denim, and fleece all end up in the same rack.

Our first take

We're into it. It's an experimental collection on paper, from the mule conversion to the collapsible heel to the artwork, but none of it feels like it's fighting Vans' DNA. It still reads as a Vans collection first, SZA collab second, which is exactly the balance a lot of celebrity collabs get wrong.

Round Two: A First Look At The Tabi Hiking Shoe

Here's the part we're actually most excited about. Alongside Drop 1, Vans used its NYFW presentation to preview what's coming in Vansza's second chapter, expected for spring 2027. On show: a camo take on the Knu Skool and, far more interesting, a completely new hiking shoe built around a split Tabi toe, shown in a couple of different colorways.

The Tabi shape itself isn't new. It dates back centuries in Japanese footwear, and it's been creeping into more and more sneaker releases over the last few years. This version sits noticeably low to the ground, with thin, chunky-lugged outsoles that lean into that minimalist, barefoot-style look rather than a traditional hiking sole.

Vansza Drop 2 hiking shoe with Tabi-toe (blue/orange)

Vansza Drop 2 hiking shoe with Tabi-toe (brown/green)

No release date, pricing, or official name for any of it yet. Vans is keeping Drop 2 close to its chest for now. We'll update this the second anything official lands.

Want first dibs on October 22? Get Vansza Drop 1 on your radar over on our release calendar, or dig through the rest of the range on our search engine.