Lizzie Armanto Creates Vans’ First Women’s-Designed Signature Skate Shoe in Over 20 Years
Pro skater Lizzie Armanto and have unveiled The Lizzie, the brand’s first signature skate shoe designed by a woman in over 20 years. Instead of the ‘shrink it and pink it’ method that all too frequently results in inadequate sneakers for women, Armanto sought out to help create a better skate shoe for ‘a wider range of skateboarders whose needs are not being met.’
As a signature model, The Lizzie is designed specifically for Armanto’s skating preferences. This was achieved by developing a silhouette based off 3D scans of her feet. She prefers increased board feel, so the outsole and footbed were reworked to a shallower profiler, enabling greater contact and control.
More macro level specifications include traditional construction methods like vulcanised midsoles, extra flex grooves, and sticky rubber tread. The toe cap is reinforced with Vans’ DURACAP compound for extra durability.
Beneath the surface, The Lizzie meets the Vans VR3 Checkerboard Globe designation, ie the brand’s sustainability protocol. This means organic cotton, natural rubber and bio foam form part of the shoe’s material composition. Furthermore, the suede portions of the upper are sourced from tanneries that are part of the Leather Working Group, meaning greater environmental responsibility.
The Lizzie will release on March 10 at Vans, and Armanto herself will be launching the shoes at an activation at Goya Studios in Los Angeles throughout March 10 to 12.