# Korean Cartoon Colorful Sneakers Vans Adorns the Kakao Friends on Sneakers With Hyunye's Help By Amy Duong | Published 2019-04-24 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kakao-friends References: [hypebeast](https://hypebeast.com/2019/4/kakao-friends-hyunye-vans-sneaker-collection-old-skool-era-slip-on) & [store.kakaofriends](https://store.kakaofriends.com/en/index) Vans unveils yet another collaborative collection -- this time, it works in conjunction with Korean artist Hyunye and Korean online media characters [Kakao Friends](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kakao-friends-1). Hyunye reworks the playful characters in vibrant designs that in end, adorn familiar silhouettes including the Old Skools in low and high tops, the Era, and the Slip-On. The notabey color palette that is seen throughout the collection spotlights dual tonal purples and orange. The inspiration behind the new collaborative project explained by Hyunye is that she “imagined a world where the Kakao Friends characters would go ‘Off The Wall.’” All of the characters are hand-drawn and expresses what she explains as their respective 'hidden personalities.' The overarching concept is to free the figures in an expressive manner, breaching the perfect mainstream archetypes. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 93% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Collaborative Sneaker Designs:** There is an opportunity for brands to collaborate with artists and designers to create limited edition sneaker collections. - **Character Branding in Fashion:** Integrating popular cartoon characters into fashion collections allows brands to tap into a nostalgic and loyal fanbase. - **Expressive Fashion Designs:** The use of hand-drawn characters and vibrant designs in fashion allows for creativity and self-expression. ### Who This Affects Most - **Fashion:** The fashion industry can leverage collaborations with artists and designers to create unique and desirable products. - **Footwear:** Footwear brands can incorporate popular cartoon characters to create distinctive sneaker designs that cater to various consumer preferences. - **Character Merchandising:** The integration of cartoon characters into fashion opens up opportunities for character licensing and merchandise. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Multi-Color Skater Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/parra-and-otw.md) - [K-Pop Film Shoe Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kpop-demon-hunters-collection.md) - [K-Pop Movie Shoe Capsules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kpop-demon-hunters-1.md) - [Surf-Inspired Skate Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yusuke-hanai-2.md) - [Artistic Sneaker Collaborations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skechers-x-vexx.md) - [Harajuku-Inspired Slip-Ons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/harajuku-punk.md) - [Streetwear Skate Remixes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-future.md) - [Textural Update Skate Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zhang-quan-1.md) - [Café Collaborative Skate Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vans-and-papergirl.md)