CLOSER LOOK AT THE LIZZIE ARMANTO VANS SKATEBOARDING SIGNATURE SHOE! 

The pro skater puts an emphasis on sustainability for her own offering.

Vans has been on a hot streak lately on the footwear front as it has released collaborations with the likes of BLENDS and Museum of Peace & Quiet, and even given pro-skater Lizzie Armanto her own signature model.

Skateboarding shoes have hardly been made with women in mind in the past, but that's no longer the case thanks to Armanto's latest collaboration with Vans. Dubbed The Lizzie, the shoe is specifically made for girls who shred, complete with a high-top look, a leaner sole, and a lower footbed to accommodate female feet. There's a ton to celebrate here—including the fact that the shoe is more sustainable than most, with organic cotton, natural rubbers, and bio-based foam, something that was important to Armanto to honor. 

Most importantly, it's the first time in 20 years that Vans is producing a skate shoe designed by a woman. If anything, it's a historic changing of the guard for gatekeepers in skateboard's very counterculture aesthetic. “It represents all the people that have been underrepresented,” Armanto says. "It's a fringe, if that makes sense."

It’s a significant moment for both parties considering that the American-Finnish athlete designed her offering to the exact earth-friendly specs that she wanted, and it’s also the first signature model that’s designed by a woman in the Vans family in two decades. “I’m humbled and honored to have this opportunity. Words don’t do justice to the feeling”, said Armanto. “I’m also just excited knowing that together with the Vans team we have a lot of
cool stuff coming down the road that will expand on everything that this first shoe represents.”

Lizzie wanted a shoe that represented her completely-from a slimmer fit tailored to her foot shape to a leaner outsole for a closer connection to her board and improved flexibility. The impact cushioning in typical skate shoes left Lizzie feeling like she was floating above her board, so Vans created a new lower profile footbed to eliminate the gap. The Lizzie also features a new vulcanized construction with a lower profile sidewall foxing tape, an exposed radiused outsole edge, and flex grooves for a stable, broken-in feel. Plus, the universal fit features the perfect amount of EcoCush™ cushioning, increasing boardfeel for a wider range of skaters. And to top it all off, a new 3D Embossed DURACAP™ toe and Sidestripe has even more durability in high-wear areas, while an all-new micro-waffle tread and Sick-Stick™ rubber offer maximum grip.