8/14/2025
SZA Expands Her Vision Beyond Music & Joins an Iconic Brand as Its Artistic Director
"My mission is to show that joy, community, creativity and fashion are all still intersectional," she said.
Christopher Claxton
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SZA x Vans Sophie Jones
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Fresh off a record-breaking run with Kendrick Lamar, SZA is making another major career move. Now, the Grammy-winning singer is joining Vans as its artistic director as part of a newly announced multiyear creative partnership. As announced on Thursday (Aug. 14), the star will collaborate with the iconic sneaker brand on upcoming campaigns and co-create exclusive product collections that merge SZA’s vision with Vans’ spirit, according to the press release.
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“I’ve been wearing Knu Skools and other styles for years — they’ve always had an ethos I connect with,” SZA said of the brand in a statement. “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.”
SZA x Vans Sophie Jones
The New Jersey native, celebrated for her rise from college dropout to record-breaking, genre-defying superstar, continues to explore self-discovery through both style and storytelling. Vans said in the press release that her authenticity and fearless approach to self-expression embody the brand’s core values. “They stand where I stand,” SZA added in her statement. “And I’m honored to invite a whole bunch of people to stand Off the Wall with us.”
The partnership kicks off with an original “VANSZA” video campaign dedicated to “the beauty of becoming,” in which SZA gives viewers advice on how to “stretch their wings as wide as the wind allows.” Directed and photographed by Sophie Jones and styled by Alejandra Hernandez, the video spotlights one of SZA’s favorite Vans silhouettes, the Knu Skool in black/white.
SZA x Vans Sophie Jones
For SZA, the Knu Skool — originally released in 1997 — isn’t just a style choice, it’s a reflection of the brand’s bold, creative energy. “In Vans, I feel free,” she said in the press release. “I’ve learned that bravery and curiosity are the cures for uncertainty. It’s a lifestyle and Vans champions that spirit.”
SZA x Vans Sophie Jones
Sophie Jones
Vans Knu Skool
$80
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