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Mario, Zelda, & Fashion: Vans To Launch Nintendo-Inspired Sneakers

By Dustin Murrell

From the archive: published May 4, 2016, 10 years ago. Details may have changed since.

Nintendo fanatics, sneaker aficionados, and fashionable skaters alike can celebrate the latest collaboration between the sports-fashion and retro-techno worlds: a line of Nintendo-inspired Vans sneakers. Whether you prefer Mario on high tops or Link and Princess Zelda on some slip-ons, the collection looks like it will have something for everybody.

So far, only eight images have been released. As reported at The Stashed — and as some are displayed through the images here — four distinct Vans styles are a part of the collection already: the Authentic, Old Skool, Sk8-Hi, and Slip-Ons.

A variety of images from the original Nintendo Entertainment System and its groundbreaking games are used to decorate the shoes. Represented from the images released so far include such characters, icons, and references as Link and Princess Zelda; Goombas, Super Mushrooms, Fireflowers, and Starman from Super Mario Bros.; Princess Peach/Princess Toadstool; Donkey Kong; the Laughing Dog from Duck Hunt; blocks from Tetris; the original Nintendo controller; and others.

As reported by Sole Collector, this isn’t the first time that Vans has collaborated with a major pop-culture icon to bring hip shoes to the sneaker world. The Vans x The Beatles Yellow Submarine line paid homage to one of the more recognizable rock albums of the 1960s, and the Vans x Star Wars line captured the most successful sci-fi movie franchise of all time on comfortable and trendy footwear.

Sole Collector also explicitly notes that there are more designs yet to come. Perhaps a shoe with Mega-Man will be released, or a series featuring Little Mac, Glass Joe, and King Hippo from Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!

While rumors of these shoes have been floating around for a few weeks, the official announcement made by Vans has eager buyers trying to decide which of the eight designs they like best — or which designs they hope are coming next.

RELATED REPORTS BY THE INQUISITR

As Twitter makes obvious, Nintendo fans are already excited:

https://twitter.com/MBplaysdrums/status/716347814956011522

https://twitter.com/InTheLittleWood/status/727869186656092160

https://twitter.com/Tytygh1010/status/727629934307446784

https://twitter.com/ashuriketchup/status/727619854597939200

https://twitter.com/Whorangejuic3/status/722284201869971457

Of course, not everyone is completely on board.

While no specific date has been given, the new line of Nintendo sneakers, Vans x Nintendo, should be available in the United States some time in June of 2016.

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