Vans Old Skool 36 Souvenir: A Chanel-Inspired Skate Classic

In the world of fashion, nothing is ever truly original. Designers frequently borrow, rework, and reinterpret, and the latest example comes from Vans, whose new Old Skool 36 Souvenir colourway appears heavily inspired by Chanel’s iconic “On the Pavement” Graffiti Messenger Bag from Spring/Summer 2015.

Originally designed by Karl Lagerfeld, the Chanel crossbody was a rebellious outlier amongst the house’s typically sleek leather handbags. Covered in spray-painted graffiti, finished with a washed and weathered aesthetic, and decorated with enamel pins, it was a statement piece that challenged the boundaries of luxury fashion. Retailing at around £3,500 when it debuted, the bag has since become a celebrity favourite—spotted on Bella Hadid, Lil Yachty, and Central Cee—and now resells for upwards of £12,000.

Fast forward a decade, and Vans has taken this punk-meets-couture energy straight into the skatepark. The Old Skool 36 Souvenir comes with a blotchy green spray-painted canvas upper, overlaid with multicoloured tweed detailing along the Jazz Stripe and tongue—directly echoing the bag’s tweed and graffiti composition. Vintage-style pins are scattered across the midfoot, carrying peace symbols, slogans and logos, in another clear nod to Chanel’s original design.

Additional touches, such as brown leather overlays, a burgundy sockliner mimicking the Chanel interior, and a deliberately distressed vulcanised sole, complete the look. It’s a skate shoe that doubles as a cultural artefact, merging luxury inspiration with streetwear accessibility.

Whether intentional homage or uncanny coincidence, the parallels are too striking to ignore. Vans has effectively reimagined a £12,000 collector’s bag into a wearable skate sneaker—proof that fashion’s high and low cultures continue to collide in the most unexpected ways.

Topics