Beatrice Domond & Vans Launch Zahba Mid and Skate Style 53

The Florida-born, New York City-based skater has had a love for fashion since she was a kid styling herself with her mom’s pieces. She translated that inspiration to create these sleek, suede Vans that also consist of perfect materials to skate in.

“It feels like me in a shoe,” Domond says. “The process wasn’t grueling because this is my third shoe now and I’m more comfortable and confident in my designs, the colors I pick, and how I want the shoe to look.”

Although this is her third time making her own shoes, Domond is constantly evaluating the evolution of how she designs for pieces to wear on and off the board. Her loaf-inspired Skate Style 53 are a look we’ve never seen before – a loafer on the top and Vans soles on the bottom.

“It means everything to me, it’s so surreal,” she says. “I feel like I’ve been doing a lot of ‘firsts’ which is cool but overwhelming. I’m a bit of a perfectionist so it’s kind of hard to juggle skating and designing – but I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job.”

In a community that is predominantly white men, Domond is a staple figure as a Black woman skater and she’s proving so in the most humble way throughout this collaboration.

“I know the pressure that I have on my shoulders to represent a whole community that’s not really prominent in the space I’m in,” Domond says. “It’s a bit of a burden but I think if anyone can handle it it’s me.”

You can buy the Zahba Mid and the Skate Style 53 at vans.com.