Vans continues its Lunar New Year celebrations with a striking “Year of the Horse” footwear pack, tapping the renowned contemporary artist Liu Bolin. Hailing from Shandong, Liu Bolin is globally recognized for his masterful black-based watercolor paintings and captivating “Hiding in the City” performance art series, where he meticulously camouflages himself into landscapes and iconic backdrops. His work often uses traditional Chinese techniques to address modern themes of identity, environment, and societal structures, making him a powerful voice in the art world.

For this exclusive collaboration, Liu Bolin infuses his distinctive artistic vision into three classic Vans Premium silhouettes. The collection’s centerpiece, the Premium Authentic 44, commands attention with a festive red upper, adorned with intricate gold horse motifs and elegant calligraphy. Its design innovates beyond standard laces, incorporating vibrant Chinese knots fashioned from twisted red string. Perhaps a note taken from adidas’ recent playbook? The shoe is rounded off with a playful touch on the outsole, with “Ma Shang Jiu Hao” written in calligraphy, which translates to an auspicious pun wishing immediate good luck.

The Premium Old Skool offers a more subdued aesthetic, presenting a crisp white base accented with rich wine-red details and subtle horse illustrations.

Complementing this, the Premium Half Cab Reissue 33 showcases contrasting suede textures in luxurious dark tones. Both the Old Skool and Half Cab models elegantly incorporate traditional Chinese buttons on their shoelaces, seamlessly bridging heritage craftsmanship with skate culture.

This pack—which is currently available—even echoes RADII’s own ethos: where ancient traditions meet cutting-edge street style for a global youth audience.

All images via HYPEBEAST (unless specified).