Here’s a dope music video by The Sole Classics, the funk band formed by Ohio’s very own Sole Classics, who put together an awesome LP for the Vault By Vans collab that is dropping tonight in NYC, and tomorrow online and at the Sole Classics Dublin location. Don’t sleep, and give this a view or two! It’s so sick.
Vans has earned the status of being a cultural symbol for creative expression, catering to those who thrive on living “Off The Wall”. Celebrating art and the brand’s commitment to inspiring the nonconformists of the world, Vault by Vans introduces a truly unique footwear collection honoring iconic painter, Frida Kahlo. Known best for her self-portraits and works inspired by Mexico, the Vault by Vans x Frida Kahlo collection brings a meticulously curated sampling of the iconic artist’s paintings to life onto classic Vans classic silhouettes.
Heavily influenced by Mexican heritage, Frida Kahlo employed a naïve folk-art style to explore questions of identity, post colonialism, gender, class and race in Mexican society. Her life took her throughout the U.S., Europe and Mexico and at times proved to be painful, a fact that only added to her lore. Her constant remaking of her identity and her creation of a personal, alternative world resonates greatly with many.
Referencing works both immediately recognizable and lesser known, the collection includes three iconic Vans styles: an OG Sk8-Hi LX featuring Frida’s self-portrait alongside a dark green toe cap, an OG Authentic LX with all-over watermelon print and embroidered details and an OG Slip-On LX celebrating Kahlo’s famed 1940 painting, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird. Each style features a vulcanized sole and crushed leather cushioned heel liner.
The Vault by Vans x Frida Kahlo collection will be available beginning June 29, 2019 at select Vault by Vans retailers. To learn more about the collection, please visit Vans.com/vault.
more pics after the jump Read More
Words via Hypebeast:
“Continuing their longstanding fashion partnership, Opening Ceremony and Vans have unveiled their latest footwear collaboration, this time around dressing the Old Skool sneaker in a luxe satin shell. Taking to the streets of Los Angeles for the lookbook, photographer Leo Reilly implements his clone-style imagery to showcase the three bright new colorways.
In line with the summer season, the “Burnt Orange/Emerald” edition is a vibrant take on the silhouette, featuring a tangerine upper with traces of teal on the side panel and mudguard for contrast. Flipping things around, the duo has also offered up an “Aqua Sky/Silver” color combination, coating the shoe in light blue with neutral hits of grey to complement the icy palette. Meanwhile, the brands take the most muted approach by way of the “Pale Mauve/Burnt Coral” style, which rounds out the pack with a pastel pink rendition”.
Launching on Friday, June 21, the Vans for Opening Ceremony Old Skool is priced at $100 USD and will be available at Opening Ceremony stores and the brand’s website.
This June, Vans introduces the Love Pack, a two-piece capsule collection, designed to celebrate love, available exclusively at the new Vault by Vans store on the Lower East Side in New York City. The Love Pack was designed around the diverse and creative community that thrives in New York and features the word “Love” translated into different languages.
The capsule collection consists of two of Vans’ most iconic silhouettes, the Sk8-Hi and Classic Slip-On, enhanced with punchy, bright rainbow details atop two of the Vault by Vans Originals silhouettes. The footwear duo pays homage to the global identity of New York through love and inclusion, regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender identity.
Each season Vans offers a range of shoes, apparel and accessories styled with rainbow motifs to enable our global consumers the ability to express their own individuality and creative expression. To celebrate Pride Month 2019, Vans has donated $50,000 to The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning) young people.
The Vans Love Pack is available now, exclusively in New York City at the Vault by Vans store at 219 Bowery. To learn more about the Vault by Vans category, please visit vans.com/vault.
more pics after the jump Read More
Sole Classics and Vans are proud to launch their 6th collaborative project; The Funk Collection on Friday, June 28th, 2019 through a New York pop-up experience, and globally on Saturday, June 29th, 2019 exclusively in-store at their Dublin location and online at SoleClassics.com. Known for their Ohio-focused storytelling, this entire collection consists of 4 Vans footwear silhouettes that pay homage to musical icons who have at some point called this great state “Home”. This project is inspired by both Funk and Soul music and the impact that it has had on their favorite artists and the decades of music that would follow.
In addition to the 4 shoes, there will also be 4 collaborative apparel pieces with 10 Deep, 2 hats, a women’s top, 2 men’s tops, a pair of bottoms, socks and a tote bag that will tie in with the footwear. In addition to the footwear and apparel, a vinyl album with all original music will be passed out for FREE to the first 100 people in line who make a purchase at both their New York and Dublin (Columbus, OH) in-store releases.
My quick thoughts:
“This pack is utterly amazing. I hope the amount of customization and details that went into each shoe doesn’t go unnoticed. Each shoe could’ve had it’s own release, and they would’ve all been successful, but I think having 4 shoes paints a bigger picture, and shows a lot of different sides to the Funk & Soul era that merged music cultures, geographical location, and style to create something all it’s own. If you’re knowledgeable in the funk & soul era, you’ll recognize some of the design influences throughout the pack. Meticulously thought out, and perfectly executed, and I believe this idea was perfect for Vans, over any other company. Oh, and just in case you’re asleep, this pack has a few “first time” design features in the history of Vans. From the first time ever seeing a jazz stripe on a Chukka, to utilizing a reflective thread on their Slip-On, to spreading a message across the waffle soles of 4 shoes, to create a cool graphic when you line them up. Props to Vans for allowing Sole Classics to push the boundary of design just a little bit more than what we’ve seen, and hopefully this inspires the next collaborator to think of something even more unique. Vans, stop saying no, and embrace these cool new ideas!!!”
Vault by Vans Sk8-Hi LX “Funk” – Retail $155 Sizes 6-13
Vault by Vans Ckukka LX “Soul” – Retail $150 Sizes 5.5-13
Vault by Vans Classic Slip-On LX “Peace” – Retail $100 Sizes 3.5-13
Vans Women’s Classic Slip-On Platform “Love” – Retail $90 Women’s Sizes 5-11.5
To read a more in-depth article on the release, as well as see more pics and information for each shoe, head over to Sole Classics blog HERE.
more pics after the jump Read More
Commonwealth and Vans, are collaborating for the first time on two classic silhouettes. The limited edition Vans Vault release comes by way of the OG Era LX and OG Slip-On LX. An exercise in subtle detailing blending inspirations from the art world, the military, and current events. Both silhouettes are dressed with premium suede leather, the Era in “Desert Sage” and the Slip-On in a “Lark Tan”. Looking for new ways to make narrative or commentary an implicit part of everyday objects, the collab focuses on the delivery of words and ideas featuring “Every Generation Needs A New Revolution” and “People Everywhere Are Created Equal” embossed on the foxing tape along with a checkerboard stripe that is seen wrapped around the midsoles. This complimented by the functionality of a siped sole. Commonwealth branding is discreetly positioned as a highlight on the backside of the tonal Vans woven label.
The Commonwealth x Vans collection will launch in limited quantities on May 18th, exclusively at Commonwealth flagship stores and online at www.commonwealth-ftgg.com.
We’ve linked up with @commonwealth_ftgg to give away a pair of the Vault by Vans x Commonwealth OG Slip-On LX or OG Era LX to two lucky winners. In order to win, please complete the following:
1. Follow @underthepalms & @commonwealth_ftgg
2. Like the Instagram partnership post
3. Comment with your US shoe size & tag 3 friends
The winner will be randomly selected & contacted via DM on May 18th.
more pics after the jump
Vault By Vans x DEFCON x LBT INC – ComfyCush Sk8-Hi LX & ComfyCush Old Skool LX (Long gone!) #DEFCON
Sorry for the late blog post about these, but DEFCON really does a great job of keeping things classified until go time, and they understand that they’re in high demand, so they try to cater to their loyalists first. I wasn’t able to get any official pics until the website went live today, and I was able to get some official press release info from a classified source. I’ll take what I can get. This pack was supposed to release alongside the rest of the ComfyCush shoes a few months back, which something else you may not know, the entire ComfyCush campaign was supposed to launch at ComplexCon, but thankfully that didn’t happen. I still have trouble prying the ComplexCon exclusive Steve Van Doren Funko Pop! out of resellers hands on eBay, and they have no real connection to SVD or Vans! Sorry, I’m sounding like everyone else when I talk like that. Anyways, this is the first time, and possibly the last? time we see a DEFCON Vault release! Pretty cool, and I’m glad to see the Old Skool make it’s way back. Oh, and what about the apparel that released alongside the shoes? Finally we get some hoodies! All of it’s Made In The USA too, so pay up suckers! It’s worth it.
Official words from DEFCON:
“In the spring of 2019, Vans VAULT introduced a new construction regarded as ComfyCush that utilizes a co-molded cupsole of proprietary foam and rubber for increased comfort and support. Defcon was given the opportunityto expand upon this build and we are proud to present the following collection.The Defcon ComfyCush SK8-HI™ Reissue LX and ComfyCush OLD SKOOL™ LX were built in coordination with London Bridge Trading Company and highlights their Nylon MAS GREY (Maritime Assault Grey) fabric. Built to support VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) / GOPLAT (Gas and Oil Platform) Maritime Exercises, the footwear features weather and stain resistant Warrior Suede®, mesh linings, perforated waffle sole for quicker draining response, a gusseted tongue, and one-piece constructed interior for a better fit.The footwear is complemented by Made-in-the-USA custom garment dyed apparel in white, black and MAS GREY.”
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
STYLE: COMFYCUSH SK8-HI™ REISSUE LX
MATERIALS: PIG SUEDE / NYLON
COLOR: (DEFCON) BLACK / MAS GREY
MTL #: VN0A45KRSVV
SIZES: 6.5 – 12, 13
MSRP: $148.00
STYLE: COMFYCUSH OLD SKOOL™ LX
MATERIALS: PIG SUEDE / NYLON
COLOR: (DEFCON) BLACK / MAS GREY
MTL #: VN0A45KSSVV
SIZES: 6.5 – 12, 13
MSRP: $148.00
FEATURES:
• Premium Waterproof and Flame Retardant Warrior Suede®
• Water proof treatment on upper
• LBT MAS GREY® NYLON textiles
• Mesh internal lining
• Gusseted tongue
• Military detailing from DEFCON identity to BDU specs
• Hesh Goat embossed heel stamp
• Added arch support
• ComfyCush co-molded outsole
tons of pics after the jump Read More
This spring, legendary artist Ralph Steadman and premium goods purveyor Vault by Vans, partner on an imperative mission to raise awareness about animal endangerment and extinction. Steadman, the renowned British illustrator of social caricatures, cartoons and picture books, lends his work to the canvases of Vans’ Sk8-Hi and Classic Slip-On, to showcase his notoriously splattered, hallucinogenic illustrations.
Featuring illustrations from “Gonzovationists” Ralph Steadman and Ceri Levy’s published books, Extinct Boids, Nextinction, and Critical Critters, Vault by Vans presents an artful and expressive way of bringing awareness and attention to threatened species. Writer-filmmaker, Ceri Levy articulates the Gonzovationist approach simply: “We’ve always maintained that you’ve got to make people laugh in order to engage them. If we just tell people, ‘you’re all dreadful bastards, you’ve screwed it all up, and now look what’s going to happen,’ people go, ‘yeah, whatever.’ But if you make them laugh, you’ve got a chance.” Thought up by the duo themselves, “Gonzovationist” defines alternative conservation through the act of gonzovating—the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of wildlife and of natural resources to include forests, earth and water.
As part of the launch of the collection, Vans has partnered with WildAid, an organization that works to reduce global consumption of wildlife products and to increase local support for conservation efforts. In addition to encouraging contributions through a donation-inspired exhibition, Vans will donate $10,000 towards WildAid to provide crucial support to end the illegal wildlife trade in our lifetimes, deliver comprehensive marine protection and reduce our collective environmental impact. “We hope these vivid depictions of the world’s most imperiled species can help inspire the change we need to save them,” said WildAid CEO Peter Knights. To celebrate the Vault by Vans x Ralph Steadman collection, Vans will feature Steadman’s artwork alongside donation installations at the new Vault by Vans Pop-Up store, located on the Lower East Side in New York City.
Coining himself as a “savage satirist”, Ralph Steadman delivers meaningful visual enlightenment and informative illustrations in this Vault by Vans collaboration using a playful approach to a sensitive cause. With his artwork reflected on beloved Vans canvases across footwear, apparel and skate decks, a merging of two explosive identities unite for a significant cause.
With every footwear, apparel and deck iteration standing for something beyond themselves, each version tells a deeper story surrounding an endangered species. The collection consists of eight footwear styles, five apparel pieces and four unique decks. Keeping environmental protection in mind, the products were designed with the most sustainable materials available including organic cotton, FSC certified wood skateboard decks and packaging made from 100% recycled content.
The Vault by Vans x Ralph Steadman collection will be available on April 27, 2019. To learn more about the Vault by Vans x Ralph Steadman collection, please visit vans.com/vault.
Discover more about the exclusive styles and endangered species after the jump: Read More
COMME des GARÇONS has teamed up with Vans Vault again, to recreate their previous all-over print Authentic, but this time in an all-black version. Constructed entirely in 10 oz. canvas, and sitting on top of a black vulcanized sole. This Authentic isn’t the OG make-up, as it’s missing the heel strip panel, but it’s a Vault LX nonetheless. They’re exclusive to Dover Street Market, and while visiting Dover Street Market Los Angeles a few weeks back, I saw these on the shelf, so it’s confirmed that they are out now.
pics via Hypebeast
more pics after the jump Read More
This has been a rumor for a few years now, and it’s dope to see the opening of the first official Vault By Vans store, albeit a temporary pop-up. Located in the lower East side of Manhattan, at 219 Bowery New York, NY 10002, Vans promises that the new space will “support and engage the local community through unique events and activations over the coming months,” though the California-based brand doesn’t expound on what fans can expect to experience at the new store, aside from a vast array of premium skate sneakers. Rumor is, they have or had some pairs of the Vault x Blends ComfyCush Old Skool LXs for sale there, and right now, they have the whole Modernica collection installed, and are offering everything, including the chairs. If you’re in the area, stop by and share your pics on IG, cause we want to see more!
more pics after the jump Read More
-
Currently on a little hiatus, but normally you can drop in for the live Twitch stream, or you can get caught up later on, by viewing us on our Youtube channel. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Anchor. -
Check out and add to our collaborative playlist on Spotify. Let's hear some of your favorite, obscure, B-side, and personal selections. The funkier and more eclectic it gets, the better. Let's show everyone how much range our community has!
