Aaron Hope 
2008’s economic swoon brought with it a return to subtler sensibilities in the fashion world. Sneaker design was not unaffected, and we’ve seen kicks get back to basics, including a 2010 when all black (and grey, and white) everythings ruled the lifestyle market. What seems to be the first sign of life after a period of somewhat docile design is a trend toward animal prints, that, if looked at carefully, can be seen to have been foreshadowed nearly a year earlier. Japan was (as always) ahead of the curve and we already saw something from Vans Japan that’s slightly similar to this new Zebra Pack from Vans Classic. Interestingly enough, these Sk8-His and Authentics go for a tonal black-on-black look themselves, perhaps as something of a bridge to wilder looks we’ll see in the coming months. Stick to Sneaker News for the first look at all these emerging trends, and click through to get a better look at the Vans Zebra Pack that’ll hit retailers in Q1. via Provider
