Info via Vans and pics via Sole Classics

Inspired by surfers of generations past, Los Angeles-based Free & Easy is the culmination of long beach days in Southern California and everything embodied therein.  Drawing from its own iconic SoCal roots since ‘66, Vault by Vans partners with Free & Easy this season on a collection that epitomizes mellow, retro vibes, with a ’70s-inspired palette featuring subdued sun-soaked gold and orange hues alongside a range of ocean-tinted jewel tones

Leading the Vault by Vans x Free & Easy collection is the OG Sk8-Hi LX in mango mojito/marshmallow and dress blues/marshmallow colorways, complete with Free & Easy’s signature “Don’t Trip” branding across the quarter panel. A psychedelic OG Era LX follows in Yin Yang/marshmallow and an OG Old Skool LX in Yin Yang/dress blues. 

A collection of apparel matches back to the footwear, featuring Vans x Free & Easy PO hoodie in mango mojito, a 380-gram fleece with enzyme wash. Also available are Vans x Free & Easy LS shirt in antique white and a SS T-shirt in dress blues, both crafted from soft, hand-washed jersey. Rounding out the collection are a Vans x Free & Easy unstructured hat, offered in both mango mojito and dress blues colorways, and a Vans x Free & Easy sock.

The Vault by Vans x Free & Easy collection is available September 4, 2020, at select Vault by Vans retailers and freeandeasy.com. For more information, visit vans.com/vault.

more pics after the jump

Read More

Words via Vans:

“One of Vans’ most coveted and anticipated collaborations is back for its 14th year: Vault by Vans x WTAPS release the latest footwear styles that combine Vans’ timeless styles with WTAPS’ military-meets-urban sensibility. The collection will unveil a secondary drop, including apparel, later this season.

WTAPS is a Japanese brand founded in 2006 by Tetsu Nishiyama with a philosophy that is centered around placing things where they should be and draws inspiration from military clothing due to its practicality, production process, stitching and material details.

This fall, there are two themes prevalent throughout the collection that will emerge in footwear iterations, first with GPS. The GPS theme aligns with the military references for which WTAPS is well-known. The WTAPS logo and GPS coordinates are printed along the outsole of the OG Old Skool LX and OG Classic Slip-On LX. The first release will be in black and white, featuring the WTAPS logo and GPS coordinates printed in white text against the black outsole, as well as the same design imagined on black featuring an orange outsole.

The first Vault by Vans x WTAPS footwear drop will be available at select Vault by Vans dealers on August 22, 2020. Additional styles will be unveiled later this season. To learn more about the collection please visit Vans.com.“

We’ve been anticipating this one for awhile now, although it was mostly the iconic WTAPS crossbones that we were waiting for.  These aren’t looking too bad either, but we love us some crossbones!

Info via Hypebeast:

“Following its collaboration with New Balance, Stray Rats has now unveiled its latest team-up with Vans Vault.

Continuing to add to its footwear lineup, the upcoming collab features two colorways of the Old Skool No Stripe and an Era colorway. A major focus of the collaboration is an archival leopard pattern accented by either suede or canvas and contrast stitching. Aside from the usual Vans branding tabs, additional branding on the shoe includes “STRAY RATS” is embossed on the back heel panel and spray paint-style printed insoles. Rounding up the design of the shoes are glossy black midsoles paired with gum rubber outsoles.”

Exclusive to U.S. customers only, the Stray Rats x Vans Vault Old Skool No Stripe and Era are set to be available via a raffle on Stray Rat’s website.

more pics after the jump Read More

Vans is excited to partner with multidisciplinary, Southern California-based artist Julian Klincewicz for the first-time to deliver a new collection celebrating human connection. The rising young artist imbued his inclusive worldview into a trio of premium Bold Ni LX sneakers from the California footwear label’s Vault by Vans division.

Working across photography, film, music, fashion, writing, Klincewicz (b. 1995) has partnered with a range of leading artists and brands including Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Calvin Klein (under Raf Simons), Louis Vuitton, MISBHV, Acne Studios and Eckhaus Latta. His work has been shown alongside the likes of Cali Thornhill Dewitt, Jim Goldberg, Wendy Ewald, Ed & Dianna Templeton and Nobuyoshi Araki, and was recently exhibited in the Virgil Abloh curated “Coming of Age” exhibition.

For his project with Vans, Klincewicz used the Latin prefix “COM” (meaning “together”) as a catalyst to explore human connection. Highlighting three central pillars that he feels represent a meaningful life — COMPASSION, COMMUNITY and COMMUNICATION — Klincewicz reworked the archival Vans Bold Ni in premium suedes and leathers with a trio of colorways dubbed Eden, Black Beauty, and Grey Ridge. The three key themes are featured directly with hand scrawled text and sketches of stars, hearts and flowers across the tongues of the shoes, in metallic gold. The signature Vans Ultracush® insole also features a circular imprint of the artist’s name, which matches up to a dust bag that’s included with each pair. A set of three t-shirts featuring original photo-based art revolving around the same three pillars completes the collection.

“I think what’s always been interesting to me is when things have layers to them, when an object represents something bigger than the sum of its parts and takes on a life of its own. For me shoes have always been such a part of defining identity, and I was thinking a lot about what goes into your identity, and how to make something that could, on a very basic level, function as a reminder that identity does not exist in a vacuum — it’s something that’s meant to be shared. I love the idea that we are not alone — we’re all humans. We’re in it together.” – Julian Klincewicz

In conjunction with the collaboration Vans will also be donating $10,000 to RAINN. For more information, visit rainn.org.

The Vault by Vans x Julian Klincewicz project will be released August 1, 2020 at select Vault by Vans accounts.

more pics after the jump Read More

Words via Hypebeast:

“Sneaker retailer Maha Amsterdam and Vans have linked up for a delectable July release. This one comes from the Vault by Vans line up with the OG Style 36 LX as the chosen silhouette. The versatile low top features the skate brand’s iconic checker pattern spruced up in orange and white. The colorway is actually inspired by the Dutch pastry, Orange Tompouce. The dessert consists of a thin puff pastry filled with cream and topped with a layer of smooth, pink icing. Orange icing is traditionally used for King’s Day in Amsterdam to represent Dutch colors. The official color names for this particular model are “Marshmallow,” “Amberglow” and “True White.”

The Maha Amsterdam x Vault by Vans OG Style 36 LX is available now at Maha Amsterdam’s official site but will drop for a wider release on July 11.”

edit:  These are sold out on Maha’s website as of 7/13/20

more pics after the jump Read More

Words via Hypebeast:

“Vault by Vans has teamed up with Copson for a collaborative summer release entitled “What’s Your Fantasy? The Great Unknown”.

Seen as a natural fit by both brands thanks their skateboarding roots, both Vans and Copson share a sense of freedom in its DNA. The Vans playground is California, USA, while Copson hails from Calabria, Italy — two regions known for its sunshine.

The Californian droughts of the ‘70s became a breeding ground for the birth of bowl skating. Surfers took to the empty swimming pools to find pleasure in trying something new. Vans gifted them its shoes and became and naturally aligned with this movement. It is an era of skateboarding that has forever inspired Copson.

In typically understated Copson style, the collection has been influenced by the brand’s well-being and spirituality ethos, resulting in both clean and timeless designs. The Epoch sneaker has been recreated with Italian suedette, the Slip-on features a favourite print from the Vans archives, and the Authentic is updated with suede detailing.

Following the lockdown restrictions imposed globally, Copson photographer and film director Romano Pizzichini turned the lens onto himself with a ‘self portrait’ series shot at home in London.

The “What’s your fantasy?” project celebrates the beauty and magic that can be born from the new and unfamiliar and is an optimistic nod to the changes that are going on around us in the world today.

The Vault by Vans x Copson collection drops on June 30, 2020, and will be available via the Copson web store.

more pics after the jump Read More

Words via Hypebeast:

“KITH‘s latest apparel offerings have employed custom textiles and striking patterns to great effect, enlivening reliable wearables with visual pop. Summer 2020 channels similar inspiration to the garments launched one year ago, taking cues from Moroccan Zellige tile for bold all-over prints that breathe life into a variety of warm weather items, including some special Vans OG Classic Slip-On LX’s, in two different patterns.”

The collection will drop on 6/27 via KITH’s website.

more pics after the jump Read More

Words via Hypebeast:

“Continuing to build on its longstanding partnership, Vans and Taka Hayashi are bringing the DIY flavor to its Old Skool and Sk8-Hi models. Tapping the premium Sk8-Hi VLT LX and Old Skool VLT LX editions for the collaborative effort, the new shoes have been doused with a hook and loop upper that allows wearers to slap included velcro patches and more atop.

The upper of both shoes utilize a “Marshmallow” colored velcro tape as its base, further employing red and white contrast stitching. Though absent of the brand’s signature Side Stripe motif on the lateral and medial regions as well as various branding, both shoes come with various velcro patch additives to customize the shoe, with the contrast stitching acting as a blueprint for where to put the individual pieces. The various accessories that come with the pairs call on Taka Hayashi and Van’s floral pattern pedigree as well as love for premium suede, with various toe box, heel, and vamp accessories included to help in spicing up the shoe’s aesthetic.”

Pairs have already shown up at online spots like HBX, but have pretty much sold out in most sizes, but Vault retailers should be getting these sooner than later.

more pics after the jump Read More