Midwest indie band American Football is collaborating with OTW by Vans on a new Authentic 44 sneaker that features the iconic cover art from their influential 1999 self-titled debut album, LP1.
This release culminates a two-year celebration of the album’s 25th anniversary, which included a sold-out global tour. Central to the album’s legacy is the white suburban house on its cover, located at 704 W. High Street in Urbana, Illinois. The home has since become a pilgrimage site for fans, even earning the designation “place of worship” on Google Maps.
To preserve the musical landmark, the band, their record label Polyvinyl, and other partners purchased the property in May 2023. In celebration, OTW by Vans and American Football recently hosted a “House(Warming) Party” at the location, featuring a backyard skate jam that honored the local DIY scene and the band’s suburban roots. The Authentic 44 sneaker serves as a tangible tribute to this commemorative period, translating the band’s cultural impact into wearable art.
“The house from the cover of LP1 has seemingly become a sort-of cultural identifier and blank canvas for fans to write themselves into or onto,” the band said in a statement. “And so we are thrilled to be able to collaborate with Vans OTW to incorporate that image so beautifully into the iconic design of their Authentic sneaker. Dream collab come true!”
The American Football x OTW by Vans Authentic 44 “LP1” is scheduled for release on October 28.
