Finished And Executed With The Help Of Dirt Army and Orang Kapal
Malaysians here have a very strong connection with Vans; having had multiple collaborations from the thoughtful, all the way to the politically rattling, we as a collective scene love their shoes very much, and for Vans’ annual Checkerboard Day, legendary skater and collaborator Pa’din Musa cooked up something very special, yet very apparent and familiar to all Malaysians: The Checkerboard “Mengkuang.”
Mengkuang, or screwpine leaves, have been woven into various products from the likes of carpets, baskets, hats, bags and so much more, and in the case of the Vans Slip-On, the art of weaving is transplanted directly onto the shoe in a checkerboard format.
With the help of @dirtarmy and @orang_kapal, the mengkuang is first woven to match the vamp of the Slip-On while the actual silhouette is criss-crossed with fine guidelines for extra detailing. Only the vamp and heel panel are juxtaposed onto the shoe, sewn in with twine, while Pa’Din’s initials are glued to the heel panels.
The shoes are also complemented by a couple of accessories, a Vans backpack made in the same pattern, as well as a framed woven mengkuang with the Vans logo cut into it.
As this is a charity event, the “Mengkuang” pack will be auctioned off on eBay. Currently as of writing, the offer stands at USD 1,100 or RM 4,569.95 with the auction ending in the next 4 days. Want a piece of cultural history? Head on to the website now to bid.
