Murakami is best known for his contemporary art inspired by anime and by an aesthetic movement he founded, called “Superflat.” His artwork is playful and colorful and blends in ancient Japanese traditions with the contemporary art movements.

The recently announced collaboration will include footwear, apparel and skate decks through the Vault by Vans line, and the resulting collection Vans x Takashi Murakami will be released at select boutique retailers in late June.

“For the past 10-plus years, without exaggeration, I have been wearing Vans Slip-Ons almost every single day”, Murakami stated, adding: “For me, there are no other shoes that are so comfortably wearable that let me focus on producing my artwork. I also feel extremely strong empathy for Vans’ brand concept and creative stance.”