Vans Surf x Mami Wata Collection

Vans Surf x Mami Wata Collection Celebrates African Surf Culture 

Available globally now!

Vans Surf is proud to announce its latest collection with African surf lifestyle brand Mami Wata, which draws inspiration from African surf culture, key historical and cultural events, and the power and positivity of surfing. The collection featured footwear styles, apparel, and accessories sustainably minded and inspired by the legacy of Africa festivals and cultural events. 

Founded in 2017, Mami Wata is translated in West African Pidgin English as “Mama Water” or Mother Ocean. Based out of Cape Town, the brand is focused on furthering manufacturing diversity and surf development in Africa and supporting world-leading African surf therapy organizations Waves for Change and Surfers Not Street Children.  

Mami Wata’s mission is to offer a different narrative of surfing and Africa to the world and to educate and share the positive effects of surfing with everyone. This season, Vans partners with Mami Wata to deliver a collection founded on these principles. 

From Zaire’s “Rumble in the Jungle” in 1974 and Nigeria’s “Festac ‘77” to other iconic local music festivals, this new collection takes the bold and graphic imagery of these cultural events and adds a modern Vans twist, tying back to Vans’ heritage Checkerboard prints.  

The collections uses a combination of regenerative, responsibly sourced, renewable, and recycled materials making up at least 30% of the product.  

By utilizing bold graphic details in contrast to a micro-Checkerboard, inspired by hand-woven fabrics popular throughout Africa, this collection pays homage to the past while giving a vibrant nod to the future generations that will live and define African surf culture.

The Vans x Mami Wata Collection will be available globally beginning February 16, 2023, at Vans Surf retail locations and Vans.com/surf.