OTW by Vans and Julian Klincewicz return with Joyous Chorus collection

The Old Skool 36 comes in Mango Mojito Orange and Ivy Green, while the Style 31 lands in India Ink/Black, but the smartest move in the OTW by Vans x Julian Klincewicz return is how grounded it feels. Both silhouettes keep Vans’ skate DNA intact with hairy suede overlays, leather tongues and the familiar waffle outsole, then sharpen the look with custom details that feel pulled from an actual rider’s bag, not a mood board. The Old Skool 36 is priced at $125 and the Style 31 at $120, a premium but still reachable bracket for footwear that is clearly meant to be worn hard, not kept pristine.

Vans officially introduced the collection on May 11 and set the release for May 15, making this the fourth collaboration between OTW by Vans and Julian Klincewicz. The project is built around “The Joyous Chorus,” a visual world drawn from Klincewicz’s sketches, textures and personal symbols. That shows up in the small things: a road sketch from his 11-year daily to-do-list ritual on the tongue label, a custom Roo charm honoring his golden retriever and red fox lab mix, a co-branded Joyous Chorus footbed and OTW heel scab. Vans also added a cushioned insole, soft padded collar and Sola Foam ADC, so the shoes read less like collector’s trophies and more like serious daily drivers.

The clothing pushes the same point without overcomplicating it. Alongside the sneakers are a collared fleece, two vintage-washed tees, carpenter pants, a tote bag and fuzzy socks, all tied back to the Joyous Chorus artwork and hardware. That mix matters because it keeps the capsule in the same lane as the shoes: practical pieces with enough personality to carry the story, but not so much attitude that they feel costume-like.

Vans continues to frame OTW as its “center of excellence” for product and brand experiences across art, design, music and skateboarding, and Klincewicz is a strong fit for that ambition because his references are not abstract. He said the collaboration pulls from early Southern California influences, including skating, circus, music, new friendships, sunshine and the beach, after moving to San Diego when he was about 7 years old. That history gives the collection its credibility. The colors are expressive, but the real appeal is more restrained: the India Ink Style 31 looks like the pair with the strongest wear appeal, because its darker palette and low-profile shape will age into the pavement instead of fighting it.