Chanel bag inspires a Vans collection this season, between luxury and streetwear

Can a street motif tell the story of haute couture? The Vans La Habana collection is the subject of much debate, as its prints are so reminiscent of an iconic Chanel bag.

According to several industry observers, the subject is driving social networks these days. The visuals bring together Vans models and a graffitied Chanel Messenger bag, thus reopening the question of inspiration and homage.

When the street meets couture

In the photos shared, the spray, tags and chromatic patchwork recall the On the Pavement model from the Graffiti summer 2015 collection. This proximity feeds a game of mirrors between skate culture and atelier couture, and it’s sure to appeal to fashion enthusiasts.

The parallel seems all the more striking given that Chanel had already drawn on urban imagery for this bag. Vans, by contrast, boasts a deep-rooted skateboarding heritage that values customization and the DIY spirit, creating an obvious visual dialogue.

“When skateboarding takes on couture codes, the boundary becomes sharper.”

The debate not only pits two aesthetics against each other, it also tells of real-life uses. A Chanel bag is about status and heritage, while a pair of sneakers is about the street, the rain and tricks, which feeds distinct expectations.

Customer references, uses and expectations

For many customers, the visual echo works because it’s legible and memorable, and therefore useful. The skate silhouette modernizes a couture gesture, and consequently widens the entry points to a style story shared between mainstream and luxury.

• Key reference: Chanel, Graffiti summer 2015 collection, On the Pavement model.
• Vans range: La Habana, inspired by a travel imagination and urban patchwork.
• Models featured: Authentic and Old Skool, historic skateboarding lines.
• Code play: spray, handwritten markings, black and white, green and blue contrasts.
• Issues: inspiration, visual memory, price and durability expectations.

This circulation of signs awakens a desire for pieces with a strong identity, without excluding practicality. A Chanel bag sets codes, but a sneaker disseminates them on a daily basis, which also multiplies styling opportunities.

Vans – Premium Authentic La Habana (Shoes). The model arrives in black and white, but also in green and blue, with sharp contrasts and a worked print. The upper keeps the Authentic line, while a denser graphic enlivens the upper, for an assertive urban wear.

What the history of fashion teaches us

Couture has often absorbed the street, and the street has responded in kind. This back-and-forth weaves a shared memory between workshops, skateshops and public spaces, offering a grammar common to both worlds.

Chanel – La Habana (Bag). Conceived around an imaginary world of travel and celebration, this model features expressive typography and warm and cool contrasts. The compact format reinforces its event impact, and the “La Habana” branding signs off the piece with panache.

In 2015, Chanel rehabilitated a graffiti vocabulary on noble materials, making a lasting impression. Today, the circle seems to be closing, as the street, in turn, appropriates these codes, and, as a result, redraws the order of influences.

The subject has been circulating on Instagram and X, where comparisons are feeding the curiosity of fans. Many welcomed the wink, while others questioned the borrowing limit, while each Chanel bag refers to a very precise symbolic capital.

Distribution, product culture and market signals

In its stores, Vans talks volumes, sizes and uses, with a service designed for everyday use. Chanel, on the other hand, defends rarity, selection and staging, which also creates distinct trajectories for similar visual objects.

Sneaker culture loves historical detours, like Japanese souvenir jackets or travelling patches. This narrative thread legitimizes talkative graphics, and thus a natural bridge to typos, tags and visible markers.

Open questions and next steps

No formal collaboration has been announced at this stage, which keeps the discussion open. The brands draw inspiration from each other, respond to each other’s ideas and make adjustments, thus establishing a dialogue that nurtures creativity as much as legal vigilance.

Vans – Old Skool “Souvenir” (Shoes). This model capitalizes on the Old Skool line and the Sidestripe, with a “souvenir” design that tells an immediate story. Finishes remain sturdy, and the upper tells the story of a graphic stroll, from sidewalk to skate spot.

For consumers, the challenge remains to reconcile budget, use and image. A Chanel bag promises inheritance and resale potential, while a striking pair not only looks the part, but also wears out with panache on the pavement.

• Chanel bag