Grammy-Winner SZA Makes Surprising Career Pivot After Touring With Kendrick Lamar originally appeared on Parade.
Grammy-winning singer SZA, 35, made a surprising career announcement not long after finishing her tour dates with Kendrick Lamar, revealing that she will be the first-ever artistic director for Vans, the popular shoe brand.
The big news was announced by Vans on Aug. 14, with the shoe brand sharing an introductory video of SZA on social media as it declared, “Meet our Artistic Director: SZA.” The announcement included a quote from the new artistic director, with SZA saying, “In Vans, I feel free! I’ve been wearing Knu Skools and other styles for years, they’ve always had an ethos I connect with.”
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SZA’s Vision for the Brand
SZA shared some insight into her plans for her partnership with the brand in a new interview with Vogue, saying, “I’ll go as far as they’ll let me go. I’m still a novice, but I know color, and I know silhouette.”
Related: Grammy-Winning Hitmaker SZA Declines Fan’s Luxe Gift, Offers Unforgettable Experience Instead
The “Kill Bill” singer went on, opening up about her vision as she told the publication, “What I’m noticing is that people are yearning to escape—to go into nature and the wilderness. I feel like nature has poor marketing: I want to be part of the best marketing that nature could have, and be the best marketing for corny, cringey humanity.”
“I’m not trying to make Vans into Bottega Veneta. I just want people to feel excited about being active,” she concluded. Her first designs with Vans will be out soon.
What SZA Has Been Doing Before This
SZA has already enjoyed a very successful career as an R&B singer. First gaining attention in the early 2010s with EPs like See.SZA.Run, she released her first album, Ctrl, in 2017, to huge success. She has continued to wow fans with her music and style, and her second album, SOS, came out in 2022.
The talented singer has already won five Grammy Awards, most recently taking home the award for Best R&B Song for “Saturn” earlier this year. She also has an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for her song “All The Stars” with Lamar.
SZA recently finished up her performances as part of Lamar’s Grand National Tour, with her last tour date on Aug. 9.
Related: SZA Teases Surprising Collaboration With Taylor Swift
What Fans Are Saying
Fans are very hyped up about the new partnership between SZA and Vans, with many cheering it on in the comments of Vans’ big announcement post.
“Buying some vans rn,” declared one excited fan, while others wrote, “Her voice is like a hug and I guess vans are back! Let me put some in my cart!!!!” and “this is cute and makes tf sense!! meeee want.”
More fans wrote that they were “so proud” of SZA’s new position, as one particularly thrilled fan exclaimed, “EPIC!!!! Such a perfect collab.”
Next: SZA Just Broke a Record Previously Held by Michael Jackson
Grammy-Winner SZA Makes Surprising Career Pivot After Touring With Kendrick Lamar first appeared on Parade on Aug 14, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
