Since spring, SZA and Kendrick Lamar have been touring together on their Grand National Tour (you might have also seen them perform at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show). “It’s been an unforgettable mix of experiences,” SZA tells Vogue, just days before heading to London and Barcelona for more shows. With such a packed schedule, she often recharges by spending time in nature—like her recent six-hour solo hike in Cardiff, Wales. “The crazy part? I’ve been hiking in Vans,” she says. “I turned these Knu Skools into cowboy boots. It sounds weird, but they’re so ugly that they’re amazing.”

Her choice of footwear makes even more sense now that she’s partnering with the iconic brand. Announced today, SZA is joining Vans as its first-ever artistic director, taking on roles from leading campaigns to designing exclusive pieces. Alongside her global stardom, she can now add shoe designer to her résumé. “Vans and me? It just fits,” says SZA, who’s been wearing the brand’s sneakers on tour. “I’ve always been about comfort and self-expression. I love feeling stable, sturdy—and also cute as hell.”

She adds, “I love wearing something super feminine and then throwing on a beat-up pair of Vans. When I need to look polished, a fresh pair feels like wearing a suit—it makes me feel pristine.”

While SZA isn’t a skater, she’s drawn to the brand’s adventurous spirit. Since 1966, Vans has been a staple for skateboarders and BMX riders, and now SZA wants to explore its fashion potential while honoring its inclusive, community-driven roots. “Skate culture is huge for Vans, but what’s beautiful is the mindset—perseverance, taking risks, failing and trying again,” she says.

That energy shines in her debut campaign, shot by Sophie Jones in the Scottish Highlands, where she wears the classic Knu Skool sneakers. “I want to bring things back to real, human spaces—AI is making me uneasy,” she admits. “People are craving escape, nature, the wild. Nature has terrible marketing, and I want to be part of changing that, celebrating raw, unfiltered humanity.”

She’s not pretending to be something she’s not: “I’m no poser—I’ve definitely wiped out trying to skate,” she laughs.

As for her future designs? Expect fresh silhouettes and bold ideas. “I’ll push it as far as they let me,” says SZA, who’s new to sneaker design but confident in her eye for color and shape. She also insists on keeping the shoes affordable—no exclusive, high-end collabs here. “I’m not turning Vans into Bottega Veneta,” she says. “I just want people to feel pumped to get moving.”

Her first designs will drop soon, but for now, SZA is enjoying a break after wrapping the tour earlier this month. Alongside her fashion work, fans can expect new music—because, as she puts it, “I’m always creating.”Fans can expect new music from her soon, too. “I know it sounds silly, but I always feel inspired to make music while on tour,” says SZA. “I have so much energy that needs an outlet, and creating feels like the best way to channel it.”