Lizzie Armanto and Oliver Grosso Star in Vans’ Latest ‘Old Meets Knu’ Campaign

Vans had added onto their “Old Meets Knu” campaign roster with Olympian Lizzie Armanto and rising skateboarder Oliver Grosso. 

The footwear brand first revealed the “Old Meets Knu” campaign in February with Tony Alva and Breana Geering. The imagery and footwear styles pay tribute to designs that have lasted through different generations. For this chapter of the campaign, Vans partnered with veteran skateboarders Lizzie Armanto and Oliver Grosso to mesh the past, present and future. 

To showcase new colorways, Armanto slipped into the Knu Skool style, which featured navy panels surrounding the 3D Sidestripe. Along with the puffed-up tongue, the rest of the suede upper was dressed in black with contrasting elements coming from the oversized white laces and sole. This set was originally released in 1997, as a reimagination of the Old Skool, influenced by a new generation of skateboarders. 

Representing that new age group, Alva wore a pair of the navy Old Skool shoes for the campaign. The low-top set took on the same colorway as the reiterated style, differentiating itself with a canvas upper and a navy tongue. The silhouette was the third skate shoe created when it was released in 1977. It pioneered the brand’s iconic Sidestripe and is now one of the Van’s most popular sets.

Although the Old Skool has continued its popularity through the brand’s history, the Knu Skool was discontinued for several decades until it was brought back by Vans in 2015. The archived style’s success can be attributed to Van’s 2022 collaboration with Imran Potato. The collection gained so much praise, the New York City-based designer has recreated the silhouette once again for Vans’ OTW line. 

The Vans Knu Skool and the Old Skool Classic are available now on the brand’s website and in select stores worldwide.