Debuted in Milan, the reimagined classic blends design, sound, and culture for a new era of skatewear innovation
Vans is turning up the volume on innovation with the launch of the Old Skool 36 FM, a bold evolution of the iconic skate shoe, introduced through the OTW by Vans line during Milan Design Week. The sneaker made its debut at CHECKERED FUTURE: FREQUENCY MANIFEST, an immersive installation at Triennale Milano, designed by Willo Perron with sound by Tim Hecker, and featuring performances from Björk, Vegyn, and Evissimax.
Vans describes the project as a commitment to design, art, and music—core pillars of the brand’s cultural identity. “CHECKERED FUTURE: FREQUENCY MANIFEST” explored the visual architecture of sound through installations inspired by frequencies, waves, and vibrations. These elements served as the conceptual foundation for the design of the Old Skool 36 FM, which was unveiled within a mirrored checkerboard installation extending into the Triennale garden.
Originally known as Style 36, the Old Skool was Vans’ second-ever skate shoe and the first to feature the now-iconic Sidestripe. The 36 FM iteration brings that legacy into the future. As the debut release of OTW’s Future Make series, it blends progressive construction with modern materiality—introducing a componentized cupsole, engineered-knit upper, and a bold 3D-injected TPU side stripe.
With enhanced comfort courtesy of Vans’ Sola Foam ADC insole and EVA Strobel construction, the shoe represents what the brand calls “a bold, future forward evolution of the original.” The Old Skool 36 FM will be available in Marshmallow and Black colorways, retailing at $125 USD, and releases globally on April 11, 2025.
The Milan debut builds on OTW by Vans’ recent cultural activations—from a skate installation under Paris’ Sacré Coeur to a Frieze Los Angeles collaboration with Sterling Ruby, and an impactful debut at Paris Fashion Week Men’s. These moments underline OTW’s goal: “to curate visionary experiences and redefine boundaries in product design and brand storytelling.”
