Vans

September 25, 2019

Breast Cancer Awareness

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In honor of breast cancer awareness month, Vans is proud to release a collection designed to not only educate youth on checking their breasts and early detection but to showcase the beauty and strength of those impacted or touched by breast cancer. Available starting October 1, 2019, at least $200,000 USD of the proceeds from the Vans Breast Cancer Awareness collection will benefit CoppaFeel! – a UK-based breast cancer awareness charity that promotes early detection and encourages young people to better know their bodies.    

“For our charity, this collaboration with Vans is a dream come true,'' says Kris Hallenga, founder of CoppaFeel!. “We are thrilled for the opportunity to spread our message across Vans’ audience, as this partnership will allow us to tell more people why checking their boobs is so important, and in return, save lives. CoppaFeel! exists to stamp out the late detection of breast cancer by educating everyone - girls, boys and non-binary pals about their boobs and encourage them to get anything abnormal checked out.”


Created by a group of Vans designers, all graphics and illustrations used in the collection were designed in-house to promote inclusion, representation and empowerment. “The illustration style uses simple shapes and minimal linework to highlight the bold use of color and the unity of interlocking figures. Breast Cancer is a disease that affects everyone regardless of their race or status, and we wanted the women in the illustrations to reflect this reality,” says Diandre Fuentes, Vans Footwear designer. “By partnering with CoppaFeel!, we can not only showcase the beauty of the women who have breast cancer but provide education to break the taboos of early cancer detection and encourage consumers to check themselves and advocate for their health needs.” 

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The footwear, apparel and accessories feature four main designs all centered around breasts. Hand drawn ladies of all shapes and colors showcase the mass reach of breast cancer uniting them through the power of self-checking. A positive affirmation of “You’ve Got This” is grounded by a subtle breast inclusion while a literal blueprint showcases ways to perform self-examinations. Finally, designers took Vans’ iconic Checkerboard pattern updating it with nudes of all colors to celebrate the strength of everyone who has been diagnosed or is impacted by breast cancer.

Vans Breast Cancer Awareness | Kris Hallenga of CoppaFeel! | VANS

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, Vans is proud to release a collection designed to not only educate youth on checking their breasts and early detection but to showcase the beauty and strength of those impacted or touched by breast cancer. Available starting October 1, 2019, at least $200,000 USD of the proceeds from the Vans Breast Cancer Awareness collection will benefit CoppaFeel! – a UK-based breast cancer awareness charity that promotes early detection and encourages young people to better know their bodies. CoppaFeel! was founded in 2009 by Kristin Hallenga and her twin sister Maren after Kris was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at the age of 23. After finding a lump at 22, living abroad in China for 8 months and eventually visiting her doctor three times, Kris was told the news that she had incurable breast cancer. Like many others, Kris was unaware that breast cancer could affect people in their twenties and knew very little about the disease. Although Kris will always live with the cancer, she wanted to get the message out there to young people that catching cancer early means you have a higher chance of surviving and revering.


The Vans Breast Cancer Awareness collection is available on October 1st, for men, women and children, because breast cancer impacts everyone. Join Vans and CoppaFeel! this October as we raise awareness, provide education and empower our consumers to know their bodies. 

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