When Skater Rapper Pharrell "Skateboard P" Williams revealed the new Louis Vuitton Combi SS27 skate shoes, it did not take long for skateboarders to start getting hyped online.
READ MORE: Skater Rapper Pharrell “Skateboard P” Williams Unveiled the New Louis Vuitton Skate Shoes
The Louis Vuitton skate shoe instantly grabbed attention thanks to its colorful look and obvious connection to one of skateboarding's most influential figures.
A lot of skaters were excited to see what Skateboard P had created with LV.
Photos of the shoes quickly spread across social media, with people discussing the different colorways and details.
While many praised the design, others immediately pointed out what they felt was a strong resemblance to the classic Vans Authentic silhouette.
That comparison opened the door for a heated debate across the skateboarding community.
Some felt the LV skate shoe looked too close to Vans, while others argued that skate shoes have existed for decades and that no single company can claim ownership over the overall style.
Things got even more interesting when Vans appeared to respond online after Skateboard P shared the shoe.
READ MORE: Vans Weighs In on Pharrell’s New Louis Vuitton Skate Shoe Resembling a Classic Vans Design
The reaction fueled even more discussion and encouraged plenty of core skateboarders to jump into the conversation. Soon, criticism of the new LV model was appearing all over social media.
As the debate continued, core skateboarder and rapper Tyler, The Creator decided to step in and share his thoughts.
Tyler has long been involved in both skateboarding and footwear culture, so his opinion carried weight among many fans.
Rather than focusing on the LV and Vans comparison, Tyler pointed to the history of skate shoes themselves.
He argued that the style existed long before Vans introduced the Authentic.
Tyler wrote:
"YALL KNOW THIS STYLE OF DECK SHOE FOR BOATS HAS BEEN AROUND BEFORE VANS CORRECT? PRO KEDS CONVERSE ETC"
His comment quickly gained attention because it shifted the conversation away from direct comparisons between LV and Vans.
Tyler's point was that skate shoes have been part of footwear history for generations, with several brands producing similar silhouettes long before the Authentic became a skateboarding staple.
Core heads agreed with Tyler's take, noting that footwear design often draws inspiration from styles that have existed for decades.
Others still felt that the similarities between the LV shoe and Vans were too obvious to ignore.
Whether you agree with him or not, Tyler's comments have become a big part of the ongoing debate surrounding Skateboard P's latest footwear release.