There’s often more to a sneaker collaboration than meets the eye, and when MSCHF is involved, almost all the traditional rules are thrown out the window. Hot on the heels of a vinyl sawblade with The Weeknd, the Brooklyn-based art collective has added Tyga to its list of partnerships. The two color outside the lines with a non-linear take on a classic Vans skate shoe.
Make waves – Appropriately named ‘Wavy Baby’, the trainers feature a black upper, a much curvier version of Vans’ signature Jazz Stripe, a white midsole and a gum waffle outsole. Canvas and suede make up the materials, and a red heel tab features a “Wavy Baby” logo created just for the occasion. To complement the remixed kicks, the platform soles have a wavy heel-to-toe shape that seems to take some getting used to.
It’s impossible to ignore the sneakers’ strong resemblance to Vans’ classic Old Skool silhouette, but they’re just unique enough to pass as their own unique creation. MSCHF said Highsnobiety last month that bringing them to life wasn’t easy and the process involved “a ton of trial and error”. Several manufacturers were unwilling to get involved with the Wavy Baby project and turned down MSCHF’s requests immediately after seeing the sketches.
Even though the curved kicks resemble popular skate shoes, MSCHF covers their bases by adding a comprehensive disclaimer to their website: “Caution: extremely wavy. By placing your foot in this shoe, you agree to waive any and all claims against MSCHF for any injury, death, or damage resulting from having your foot in this shoe.
Tyga’s past collaborations have spanned fast fashion retailer BoohooMan to Milan-based brand Marcelo Burlon to skate label LA Gear, but joining MSCHF’s roster could open the door to more. He also made his sneaky debut with the shoes during his feature on Doja Cat’s music video for “Freaky Deaky.”
The $220 MSCHF x Tyga “Wavy Baby” sneakers will be available at 12 p.m. EST on April 18 through the MSCHF sneaker app. Because the artist collective is known for its more adventurous and outrageous ideas (see: Satan Shoes, Birkin bag sandals, Chik-fil-A Sunday pranks), these heavily twisted Vans are much more tame.