It is on like Donkey Kong! Vans, Nintendo partner on footwear and apparel collection

Senior Features Writer

June 2, 2016 12:42 PM PT

Roll out the barrels! Cypress-based action sports brand Vans has teamed up with Nintendo for a nostalgic 8-bit romp through the Japanese video-game maker’s early-‘80s catalog, resulting in Donkey Kong kicks, Duck Hunt socks and tie-dyed backpacks and trucker caps depicting a mushroom-pouncing Mario.

The Vans X Nintendo collection kicks off Friday with four versions of Vans’ canvas lace-up Authentic silhouette paying homage to the classic games. Standouts here include the Duck Hunt design, which features a flying duck and a hunting dog against a digi-camo background, and the tie-dyed Donkey Kong graphic that features everyone’s favorite barrel-rolling gorilla swirling amid the girders of the game. Fun details include Nintendo game logos on the tongue and printing on the waffle soles that reads: “Game” (on one shoe bottom) and “Over!” (on the other). The collection also includes co-branded T-shirts, backpacks, socks and trucker-style caps for men and women featuring the same prints.

Also in the mix is a slip-on silhouette featuring quotes and graphics from the “Legend of Zelda,” versions of the Sk8-Hi and Old Skool with allover prints inspired by the early Nintendo Entertainment Console, as well as a range of designs for those unfortunate kids and toddlers born too late to know Mario and his 8-bit ilk any other way.

The Vans X Nintendo collection ($10 to $75) available June 3 online at vans.com/Nintendo, Vans’ brick-and-mortar stores and select retailers nationwide.

ALSO:

How Vans tapped SoCal skate culture and became a billion-dollar shoe brand

Vans, ‘Star Wars’ partner on a galaxy full, full of gear

The Polo Ralph Lauren closing ceremony uniforms: four things to think about

For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me @ARTschorn.