COLOR & MATERIALS | TEXTILE ART + DESIGN
DEPARTMENT: FOOTWEAR, “WOMEN’S SURF” CATEGORY
Ideation & sketch phase
« TRIPPY FLORAL »
color palette, textile design & materials
mood board
On the pulse, fashion-driven
design solutions
re-interpreted for the Vans woman.
Color Story:
CONSUMER Profiles:
1. The Modern Wanderer. Age 25-35 years old.
Digital Nomad & Explorer.
She works remotely, moving between coffee shops, art collectives, and backcountry trails. Her weekends are spent camping in national parks or scoping the best thrift finds in small-town vintage shops. She is drawn to earthy aesthetics, natural materials, and a worn-in effortless style that feels nostalgic and open.
She seeks sustainable, functional products that still carry an element of cool individuality and self-expression. She gravitates towards brands like Patagonia and Free People Movement, but loves how Vans blends functional footwear with subculture. She’s into retro outdoor gear, muted tones and footwear that can take her from the train to the city.
Color, Material & Finish Inspiration:
Organic textures, sun-faded hues, and a rugged yet casual aesthetic with modern yet nature-inspired prints. With cracked-leather accents, the shoes feel broken-in from the start, making them perfect for The Modern Wanderer’s lifestyle of constant movement.
2. The Outdoorsy Alt-Girl. Age 17-27 years old.
Streetwear Meets Nature.
She’s part of the next-gen outdoors movement— where skate, streetwear and adventure culture collide. She listens to Tame Impala and ‘90s alt-rock, finds her fashion inspiration from early ‘00s indie aesthetics and believes skate culture and the outdoors should be for everyone, not just the guys. She’s likely to be at an art show in a warehouse in DTLA as she is to be hiking her favorite trail off the Los Angeles coast in Malibu.
She’s deeply trend-conscious but doesn’t blindly follow trends. Instead, she curates her style based on artistic influences and personal expression. She supports indie brands and mixes thrifted oversized wear with technical outdoor gear. She’s drawn to brands like Brain Dead and Nike ACG but always circles back to Vans for its skate-heritage-meets-streetwear vibe.
Color, Material & Finish Inspiration:
« Trippy floral » and mushroom motifs align with her love of psychedelic influences, festival aesthetics, and surreal art. With outdoor gear becoming more stylish, this collection feels like a perfect fusion of fashion and function with a color story that matches her mix of vintage and new, earthy but vibrant with an artistic edge.
3. The City-Dwelling Escapist. Age 27-37 years old.
Urban Explorer, Weekend Adventurer
She lives in Los Angeles, Portland or Austin, working in design, music or the creative industry. She’s deeply inspired by 1970s counterculture, nature documentaries and Wes Anderson films. Her social life revolves around record stores, outdoor film screenings, and road trips with her dog. She loves escaping the city whenever she can, whether it’s by hiking a local trail or heading to Joshua Tree for a weekend reset.
She’s intentional with her purchases, preferring quality over fast fashion but mixes high-end outdoor brands with heritage skate brands like Vans. She loves supporting Independent labels and she’s drawn to footwear that transitions effortlessly from city to nature.
Color, Material & Finish Inspiration:
Organic meets psychedelic aesthetic that mirrors her love of mid-century art, nature and vintage design. The cultural storytelling behind the materials align with her values, making the shoe functional enough for hikes but stylish enough for daily wear.
