Vans – “31 Days of Vans” Half Cab (Vans Family Exclusive!)

Jul 12 21 under Heritage, History, OTWS, Skate, UTP, Vans App, Vans Family, Waffleheads | Comments Off

So this is something we’ve been secretly working on with Vans for about a year now as part of the all month long celebration of #31daysofvans. When Vans originally approached me to talk about ways that Vans could officially join in on the fun, while fully acknowledging that this was community created, there was always a talk about maybe having a shoe made up that would be created with the collectors and Waffleheads in mind. Something dope, and limited. The Half Cab was the shoe of choice, as this is the 30th Anniversary of Steve Caballero’s signature shoe, and they delivered big time with this dope design. (Now Kyle’s 31 Days Vans flyer makes more sense, right?!) I’ve only seen mock-ups of the shoe, but never official pics, and I’m beyond stoked the way these came out. The color. The croc texture. The freakin’ silver duct-tape lining!! All these things pay homage to the Half Cab, in the most authentic way. I’m sure Cabbie is proud of these. There’s also a dope pin that is included with each purchase, of the actual Half Cab. One other nice surprise, is that you can sign up for 200 pts. on the Vans Family app, for a chance to win a signed deck, by Stevie Cab, featuring his Cab Fink artwork on it.

Here’s the Vans caption:

“Calling all Waffleheads: this one’s for you! Celebrate 31 Days of Vans with this Half Cab, designed and made exclusively for the Fam. Originally released in 1992, the Half Cab represents an era of design innovation. Constructed by street skaters in the early 90s by cutting the collar off the original Vans Caballero pro model and creating the “lighter, better, faster” version of its predecessor, the signature shoe is a true icon.

In celebration of 31 Days of Vans, we’re bringing you an exclusive colorway of the revolutionary Half Cab in a heritage red with metallic silver collar lining to give a duct tape vibe, symbolizing its origins in street skateboarding. Every pair comes with an exclusive pin.”

Disclaimer, these are all but sold out by now, since they released earlier this morning, so this is more to heap praise on the Vans Family team who made all this happen, and to thank them for allowing me, and a few of my friends to join in and be a part of this. We’re honored and I hope we get to do this again for years to come!

31 Days of Vans Is Back for 2021! #31daysofvans

Jul 1 21 under Events, Friends, Heritage, History, OTWS, UTP, Waffleheads, WDYWT | Comments Off

Well, today’s July 1st, and you know what that means. It’s time to kick off the annual #31daysofvans celebration. This year is a little bit different though, and that’s because we’re excited to announce that Vans, and in particular, the Vans Family team, are officially joining in, (and recognizing) our community-created celebration. This has been something that’s been brewing for just over 2 years now. Covid put a hold on all the plans we had started talking about, the first go around, but last year, I got to get together again with the Vans Family, to brainstorm and come up with some ideas on ways for Vans to get involved. I was honored to represent the community, and I have the utmost respect for the way they approached it, understanding that this was something we had all created, and they weren’t trying to take anything away from that. So with that being said, we threw a bunch of stuff at the wall, to see what stuck, and I’m not going to give away anything, but there’s some cool stuff they’re doing for it, so stay tuned for sure. We’re beyond stoked.

I also wanted to give a huge huge huge shout-out to our Vans brother, Kyle Sliney, aka @iamrocketkyle for the sick artwork he always does for 31 Days of Vans, and if you haven’t noticed by now, Vans requested his artistic stylings, for an official banner graphic for the Vans Family app, and boy did he come through! His artwork features a neon sign, complete with animation, including a Caballero model being chopped down to a Half Cab, nodding to the upcoming anniversary of the Half Cab, which we’ll be seeing more of through the year. You can read about the full inspiration over on his IG post. So awesome. So proud of him. Glad he got some official Vans shine!

For those of you who are new to our Vans community and not quite sure what this is. Well, we invite you to share your favorite pair(s) of Vans with the rest of us. Get creative. We’ve seen folks post up the same shoe all 31 days, just to find out at the end, each pair was a different one, but all the same shoe, lol. That was wild. We also get to see a lot of stuff that most have forgotten about. There’s no wrong way to do this. Just share a pic, each day, preferably on-foot, and check out the campaign hashtag each night before you go to bed, to see all the cool pairs across the globe!

Rest In Peace Vans Co-Founder Paul Van Doren (1930-2021)

May 7 21 under Heritage, History, NEWS, Van Doren, Waffleheads | 3 Comments

This is pretty heavy news right here to wake up to this morning. Vans co-founder Paul Van Doren, has passed away after being on this earth for 90 years. This news comes just one week after the launch of his memoir, “Authentic“. We have him to thank, for this awesome brand that has given us an identity, and a true sense of community. Always reminding us to be authentic, and do things our own way, while remembering to make it about the people. We will never lose sight of that. Vans has created more opportunity for us, than anything else, and we ultimately have Paul Van Doren to thank for that. We’ll always honor you, and your name lives on through your family, and through the extended Wafflehead family. You will be missed, but never forgotten. Thank you, Paul.

Instagram Live Interview with Clayton Boone @wearingwaffles

Apr 15 21 under Friends, Interviews, UTP, Videos, Waffleheads | Comments Off

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Wearing Waffles (@wearingwaffles)

Fellow Wafflehead, Clayton Boone (@wearingwaffles) and I get together for an hour long chat about Vans, Vans, and more Vans. He just started doing these Instagram Live videos, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each one he’s done. It’s grassroots and it’s simple, so don’t get turned off by the Zoom-esque audio and video quality! The content is still entertaining, I think? There’s no real format or style, other than just talking about Vans, and our love for them. We talked a little bit about how Under The Palms started. What a few of my favorite pairs are. Why I don’t care to show off my entire collection, and specifically my storage unit lol. I gossip a little. I name drop. I drop a little bit of a surprise at the end, in regards to this year’s 31 Days of Vans campaign. You don’t want to miss a second of this fun little interview we did. I’ll definitely be back to talk more with Clayton, and hopefully his following will have grown 10x in size! I’m stoked that he actually created something, that to be honest I’ve been trying to think of a way to do for a long time, but for one, I didn’t know where to start, but second, I just don’t like to be on the front side of the camera. I guess I need to work on that. Maybe we’ll start doing something like this one day. Maybe!

Vans Introduces New Livestream Broadcast Channel 66

Feb 10 21 under Art, Articles, House of Vans, Interviews, NEWS, Videos, Waffleheads | Comments Off

Vans is excited to announce the launch of Channel 66, a digital livestream network broadcasting weekdays from New York City, Chicago, Mexico City, and Los Angeles to audiences around the world. Vans version of community radio meets public access TV, Channel 66 is an embodiment of Vans’ commitment to support artists and creatives while also uplifting communities during such an unprecedented time. The COVID-19 pandemic has forever altered the events landscape and Vans has a deep history of reimagining event experiences and grassroots programs.

Channel 66 spotlights each city’s unique heritage in sub-culture by programming through the lens of the people who live it. Channel 66 offers a live audio and video broadcast featuring DJ sets, curated radio shows, talks, workshops, and musical performances across music, art, action sports and community. The General in Brooklyn, NY, House of Vans Chicago, Mexico City (broadcasting Spanish speaking shows), and Vans DTLA serve as Channel 66 studio locations.

Programming highlights include curated shows like Chessboxing with GZA, New Direction New York Hardcore show with Walter Schreifels, Afropunk’s Channel Interference, Poetry and lyricism by Young Chicago Authors, The Girl Ultra Show connecting music and fashion, and All Ages Show spotlighting Los Angeles’s rich heritage in DIY and punk.

Early show guests and DJs feature Japanese Breakfast, Channel Tres, Vic Mensa, Laura Jane Grace, Duckwrth, Rosa Pistola, Flea, Serena Isioma, Vans Pro skater Daniel Lutheran and many more. Additionally, Channel 66 turns over the airwaves to local skate shops, restaurants, music venues, and independent record labels.

Channel 66 went live on February 8^th and will continue to broadcast starting at 11:00am EST / 8:00 am PST every weekday with Friday nights featuring marquee live performances and dance-oriented DJ sets. As distance and separation from others has become an unfortunate reality for everyone across the world, Vans strives to cultivate Channel 66 as a place where audiences from all walks of life can come together to find inspiration.

To stay up to date with Channel 66 broadcasts and upcoming events online follow along at vans.com/channel66.

Follow Channel 66 on Instagram at vanschannel66.

VANS PARTNERS WITH RISING BLACK ARTISTS FOR FOOTWEAR COLLABORATION HONORING BLACK HISTORY MADE EVERY DAY

Feb 8 21 under Art, Collaborations, Heritage, Waffleheads | Comments Off

Vans announces limited-time footwear collaboration featuring four rising Black artists in honor of Black History made every day. This initiative showcases four creatives who are pushing culture forward and paving the way for generations to follow. The artists include Rewina Beshue, whose scope of work ranges from multimedia, painting, printmaking, and graphic design; Sydney G. James, a fine artist and muralist and one of the leading creative voices in southeast Michigan; Chris Martin, a multidisciplinary artist that explores the African Diaspora and spotlights the rich history of The South; and Tony Whlgn, a visual artist who creates on unconventional mediums and has worked with Marc Ecko, Joey Badass, Big K.R.I.T. and NYC’s KITH. As Vans remains committed to continuously uplifting the voices of marginalized communities, the partnership with these four unique artists reinforces the powerful role self-expression plays in drawing awareness to the diverse representation of creativity brought to life.

Each week in February, Vans.com will feature a different artist delving into their story and work alongside the release of their Vans Custom design that embody their diverse styles and tenacious spirits. In addition, each artist will be featured in store windows of all Vans stores across the U.S. and Canada for the entire month of February, as well as across Vans social media accounts.

Vans will also be donating $40,000 to the Black Arts Future Fund, an organization that uplifts and enhances the future of Black arts and culture. This donation will fund granting efforts to small and community-based Black arts organizations across the country. Vans fans can also lend support to the Black Art Future Fund by donating their Vans Family points up to $25,000 within the US. View full terms and conditions here.

Finally, Vans has reintroduced it’s “Foot the Bill” program to support small businesses who have been deeply impacted by the pandemic. In conjunction with Black History Month, Vans will spotlight three Black-owned businesses each week as part of directing consumers to Black-owned businesses throughout the US. Companies including 606 Records in Chicago and Harriet’s Bookshop in Philadelphia – list of companies to date showcased below. Through efforts like “Foot the Bill,” Vans is committed to championing inclusivity by supporting small businesses that are owned and operated by diverse communities. More info on Vans “Foot The Bill”.

“As we live our purpose to enable creative expression, we are proud to partner with each artist to uplift and amplify their voices during Black History Month and beyond.”

– Carly Gomez, VP Marketing of Vans The Americas

“It brings me absolute joy to use my art to uplift Black art communities. It is important to use my platform to amplify positivity in Black communities through art and creativity.”

– Rewina Beshue

“The design is special, because for me, it goes way beyond a shoe. It brings my life as an artist full circle. As a child artist (like many young artists) and into adulthood, I’ve always drawn and painted on clothes, walls and shoes. My parents granted me such liberties. And now, as I am soon to become a 42-year-old Black woman, I have created art in all three mediums professionally and MY way. There’s something poetic and encouraging in that.”

– Sydney G. James

“As creatives, the least we can do is speak our truth and hope it resonates and uplifts others.”

– Chris Martin

“My hope is for people to unlearn what they’ve been taught, to do the work of the inner and outer self, and receive the intergenerational messages of Love, Peace, & Happiness”

– Tony Whlgn

ABOUT THE ARTISTS: Read More

It’s Time For Another Year of 31 Days of Vans! (#31daysofVans)

Jul 1 20 under Contests, Events, Friends, Heritage, History, OTWS, UTP, Waffleheads, WDYWT | Comments Off

Yes, it’s that time of year again to celebrate our unofficial Vans holiday, created by us, for us! Show off your love for all things Vans. There’s no formula to this shit, just share your pairs, and use the campaign hashtag #31daysofvans. Let’s see how much the Vans Family has grown from last year. Thanks to Kyle for producing some sick banner graphics for the cause!

Hero For Kids Foundation – Fundraiser Campaign Update!

Dec 2 19 under Collaborations, Events, Friends, Kids, OTWS, UTP, Waffleheads | Comments Off

Thank you so much to my very talented brother @LazyWORK for this totally awesome artwork, to help promote our GoFundMe campaign, in partnership with @ofthesamevein, and @thelab_bp, to raise funds with the @heroforkidsfoundation to get some Vans for the homeless youth of Orange County. Sometimes, all it takes is a new pair of shoes to boost someone’s self esteem, and that’s one of our goals with this campaign. Charity doesn’t always have to be so serious and practical, (although shoes are very practical to these kids, especially the ones I saw skating during their recess, today!), but it can be unique, and done in our own way, which is just what we’re good at. Today it’s shoes, but in the future, we’ll work on some fun new ways to help the Hero For Kids foundation. School functions; Funding field trips; Pizza parties; Clothing drives; etc. Our GoFundMe campaign has reached the $1k mark, and we still need more, so please make any donation that you can. We’ll be sending out a THANK YOU card of this artwork as well, and don’t worry, the same goes for everyone who’s already donated. We’ll just need you to email us your info!

PLEASE CLICK ON THE PIC OR HERE TO HELP US HELP THE KIDS!

Blends CM x Under The Palms – Meet The Waffleheads (Event Recap!)

Sep 17 19 under Collaborations, Events, Friends, OTWS, UTP, Waffleheads | Comments Off

This past Thursday we co-hosted our first of hopefully many meet and greets, to celebrate Vans culture in a way unlike any other culture out there. Some sneaker brands organize their communities around an outdoor activity, a basketball tournament, a sneaker convention of sorts, etc. Something that represents their demographic and their style. Well, it’s kind of hard to put a finger on what exactly our Vans sneaker community is, and perhaps that’s the best part about it. Like the campaign slogan a few years back, “Not Just One Thing”, so as are we. When Julz, Nobu, and I first started talking about an idea of doing an event, we had no direction, and nothing to build off of, and it sorta’ got put on the back burner a few times. Well, as Vans started rolling out the WAFFLEHEADS campaign, and my name started popping up, that started to provide us with some inspiration. The Blends CM crew decided we should host an event for me, showcasing some of my collection, similar to how some of my pairs are currently on display in Chicago and in NYC at two of Vans’ flagship stores, but we’d try to add another layer to it, by also hosting a social gathering, to bring out our local WAFFLEHEADS family. Perfect! Now the work starts.

So now that we had a “waffleheads” theme to run with, we started thinking of all the possibilities for an event. I’ve been working on a new Antidot sneaker refresher fragrance with the SolScience guys, and it was based around a maple syrup scent, geared for fresh waffles, aka Vans, so I wanted to make sure we could somehow work them into the mix, which turned out great. We then thought how cool it would be to get the Vans waffle maker machine for our event, which we’ve only seen at a handful of them. We knew it was a shot in the dark, and we’d most likely get shot down, but we just had to ask. Our PR homie Michelle C. handed us off to the Vans marketing team, and boy did we get hooked up. We not only got Vans to come make us about 100 or so waffles, they also hooked us up with chain-stitch artist Ben Goetting, to personalize the chore coats that were being sold during the event, which then turned into people getting to customize their free Vans tote bags that were being given out. I apologize for having Ben stay til closing, due to the long line and high demand for his art services! We also had free beer from Bootleggers, who recently opened a tap room about 50 yards away from Blends CM, and what’s better than free beer?!

The most important thing about the event wasn’t the rare sneakers on display. Nope. It was our people. It was a reunion of sorts. Some guys I haven’t seen for a few years now, since the last time the #blendsboiz camped out for sneakers! Some were new friends that just started to discover our community, and some just happened to be sneaker enthusiasts who happened to stop by while on vacation from Canada, who were stoked to see something like this going on! That’s just so cool to me. Our plan of having the event on a Thursday night, to attract friends and fam from Vans HQ worked out quite nicely too, as I met a few folks who I never met before. My family came out in droves as well, and I thank each and every one of you. Seriously, most of the pics you’re going to see are of the people. That’s what makes this shit cool for me. If I can get people to come out, by way of this Vans vehicle, then I’ll ride it til’ the wheels fall off! Stay tuned for more fun and innovative ways to incorporate more and more people to join in on our fun and youthful culture.

Please enjoy all of the pics after the jump, who mostly came from my homie Eason, Nate, and my bro Ron.

Come Hang With Us At Blends Costa Mesa This Thursday! (9.12.19) @blendscm #waffleheads

Sep 11 19 under Events, Friends, OTWS, UTP, Waffleheads | Comments Off

What are you doing thisThursday? You’re hanging out with me at @blendscm for our first of hopefully many #WAFFLEHEADS meet and greets! We need to get back to what we’re all about, and that’s community and making friends. Everyone’s invited, even dogs if they can read this! (No seriously, bring out your awesome and friendly dogs). If you’re a fellow Wafflehead, then represent and introduce yourself! We’ll have some cool stuff going on, like free chainstitch customization for anyone who purchases a Vans Chore Coat; Free giveaways; event-exclusives; AND THE VANS TEAM WILL BE ON SITE SERVING UP THEM WAFFLES ON A STICK FOR US! Don’t miss out!