Would You Pay $750 for a Pair of Vans?

There are plenty of reasons to love Vans, of course. The ubiquitous canvas skate shoes are as timeless and versatile as it gets—those classic white slip-ons look as at home on a punk in the pit as they do on a prepster in a button-down Oxford and chinos. The California brand’s wares are easily attainable, look good fresh out of the box and totally thrashed, and—crucially—are always absurdly affordable, with a standard pair of Vans Authentics clocking in at just $55 a pop.

So why, then, does the latest Vans collaboration cost an eye-watering $750?

The answer begins with Mattias Gollin, a footwear designer based in Italy. Gollin made waves last year by producing $2,300 Timberland boots embellished with pearls and crystals; Drake was one of the five lucky customers to bag a pair. Later in 2024, Gollin unveiled his first collaboration with Vans, covering pairs of the brand’s slip-ons in beads and pearls for $390 a pop. Now, Gollin is delivering a similar spin on the Vans Authentic, resulting in one of the coolest—and, yes, most expensive—pairs of Vans ever.