Vans x Skateistan collection

The footwear and apparel collection was inspired by the artwork of Skateistan students. Vans will donate $200,000 to Skateistan to support their mission to empower children through skateboarding and education. The Vans x Skateistan collection is now available in retail stores and at vans.com/skateboarding 

Vans also launched a campaign in the summer of 2021 called ‘Where It Starts’ to celebrate the grassroots and communities of skateboarding. This campaign also helped Skateistan with a percentage of proceeds from all custom designs made on the Vans Customs platform being donated to support their programs.

Following the fall of the Afghanistan government in August 2021, Skateistan were forced to suspend their programs in Afghanistan for the safety of the students and staff. In a statement this week Skateistan confirmed, “we are committed to Afghanistan, where the roots of Skateistan remain. We don’t yet know exactly what programs we will be able to run in this new landscape, but we will not turn our backs on the hundreds of children who look to Skateistan as a haven. This will involve using a different, more flexible model from our previous Skate Schools so that we can reach more children, faster. This could include places like refugee camps and informal settlements, reaching the most vulnerable children in many different places.”

The Skateistan story has changed but it will carry on. You can help them to write their next chapter by making a donation.