Converse and Paris-based fashion label Vaquera have joined forces to unveil the XXXHi Slouch Wedge and XHi Slouch Wedge, a bold reinterpretation of the iconic Chuck silhouette that merges Converse’s timeless design language with Vaquera’s subversive, narrative-driven creativity.
Founded in 2013 by Patric DiCaprio and Bryn Taubensee, Vaquera has built a cult following for its irreverent approach to fashion celebrating contradiction, individuality, and self-expression. From their viral pillow dresses to their place on the Paris Fashion Week calendar, the brand has become a symbol of fashion’s avant-garde spirit.
Unveiled during Vaquera’s Fall/Winter 2025 presentation, the Converse × Vaquera XXXHi Slouch Wedge and XHi Slouch Wedge reimagine the Chuck into exaggerated, textile-heavy silhouettes with hidden wedge soles. The XXXHi extends above the knee, while the XHi falls just below, both designed to challenge proportion and movement. Constructed in synthetic-waxed canvas that softens with wear, the design retains Converse’s signature elements the patch, pinstripes, and canvas while infusing Vaquera’s experimental attitude.
“We love to take something well-known like the Chuck and make it feel new,” says Bryn Taubensee, co-founder of Vaquera. “We kept a lot of the iconic elements of the Chuck but removed the laces and supersized the upper. The effect is something familiar while at the same time unknown and exciting.”
Photographed by Brianna Capozzi and styled by Emma Wyman, the campaign features musician Cortisa Star, capturing the expressive, boundary-breaking energy that defines both brands.
In South Africa, the collaboration arrives at a time when local fashion and youth culture continue to embrace bold forms of self-expression and streetwear experimentation.
“Converse has always stood for creativity without limits. Collaborations like this one with Vaquera speak to our local audience’s appetite for originality it’s about celebrating those who dare to do things differently and redefine what style means today,” says Tebogo Mothlamme, Marketing Manager Converse South Africa.
This collaboration forms part of a broader partnership between Vaquera and Nike Inc., which also includes a forthcoming reinterpretation of the Nike Air Max DN8, Nike’s latest innovation in Dynamic Air technology.
The Converse x Vaquera footwear will be available from 11 November at converse.com and select retailers across South Africa starting at R3 199.95.
