tmrsn – Syndicate x Defcon Old Skool Pro “S”
more entries after the jump Read More
The fine people over at Montreal’s favorite boutique, Off The Hook, along with Chef Chuck Hughes, have put together one of the most unique, and purposeful Vans releases that we’ve seen in awhile. While most collaborations typically represent a story or local landmark, these represent an entire industry, or culture if you will, of those who work in kitchens everywhere. Why did I bring that up? Well, to make a point that these will surely raise interest worldwide. Chef Chuck Hughes was looking out for those who are stuck wearing less-than-awesome black on black non-slip shoes, while they cook, clean, and serve us fine folk. If Vans is taking notes, they could offer up an entire line created especially for these group of individuals. But I digress, let’s get back to the shoes. This “Black Crab” collection is beautiful. Yes, even black on black can be beautiful. It’s all about the details, and Vans Vault is who you go to when you want the details to stand out. From the water resistant panels, to the moisture-wicking liners and gusseted tongue, to the cork footbeds, waxed laces, and non-slip waffle soles, you really couldn’t have asked for more. They even had a custom box made up, featuring a white diagonal stripe on an all orange background, with a chrome crab insignia with black lettering. Such an awesome job was done on these! They release tomorrow, so be quick with the keyboard if you plan on getting these. (Oh, and do yourselves a favor, try and remove the label that is affixed to the cork sole. These are abnormally hard to take off for some reason, and if you step into your shoe, and press down on that sticker, then you won’t be removing them anytime soon). So to recap, they covered the 5 things that any great collab should have: An original idea, some unique materials, branding on the shoe, custom packaging, and a story or inspiration to back it.
A special shoutout goes to Graeme, Denis, and Will from OTH for allowing me to get my pairs early, so that I could put together this review for you all. I hope it helps you decide if you really want them or not. I tried to capture as many of the details as I could! -Guamstyles
Release date:
3/22/14
In-store 10 AM EST
Online at 12 noon EST / 9 AM PDT (Click HERE for link to webstore)
lots more detailed pics after the jump (click on pics to see a higher-res file) Read More
Words via Hypebeast:
“As a nod to the brand’s year in Belgium, Opening Ceremony has teamed up with the Magritte Foundation to create a collection of “wearable art” as a nod to one of the country’s greatest artists: René Magritte. Using the Vans Authentic as a canvas, the footwear collection displays classic Magritte pieces of surrealism, including The Blow to the Heart, Good Connections, The Ladder of Fire, Sheherazade, and The King’s Museum. All five pairs are available to pre-order online now and are set for a release this May.
I want to put this out there for you all. Take it or leave it. It’s just my personal experience with Opening Ceremony: Awhile back I had placed a pre-order for the Kenzo Grape Authentics, and then again on their webstore when they released. After waiting for the shoes for about 3 weeks, I finally went to contact them (and this happened on two separate orders!), and their excuses were “oh, we ran out of stock” and “we can’t seem to find that shoe, so we had to give you a refund”. I can understand that limited and hyped up shoes sell out, but at least have the common courtesy to let us know that you cancelled our orders. We could’ve tried other places to get our shoes! Happened to other Under The Palms forum members on other releases as well, and we are a tiny group! Check their NYC Yelp reviews, and you’ll see other random people with similar experiences. Not saying this will happen to you, but if it does, comment here, and tell us your experience with them!
more styles after the jump Read More
Words via Hypebeast:
“Hemp graces a trio of classic Vans silhouettes this spring as the Sk8-Hi, Era and Madero all come decked out in tonal, double-stitched uppers for the current season. While both the Sk8-Hi and Era see contrasting white rubber foxing (sans foxing stripe), the sleek derby-like Madero sports an entirely monochromatic look to further highlight its eco-friendly upper.”
more models after the jump Read More
Taking a new approach to the iconic Authentic and Sk8-Hi aesthetics, Vans, OTH and Chef Chuck Hughes introduce the first-ever kitchen-ready lifestyle shoes, the “Black Crab” Pack, available exclusively at the Vans x OTH store on March 22nd, 2014.
The “Black Crab” Pack includes two all-black silhouettes: a Vans SK8-Hi Reissue Zip LX and an Authentic LX. Both are constructed from water-repellant materials, with minimal stitching on the uppers and with waxed cotton laces to withstand the at-times tumultuous kitchen environment. A cork insole sits atop the classic Vans non-slip waffle outsole. The SK8-Hi Reissue Zip LX features a gusseted tongue and a waterproof zipper that runs along the back of the heel for easy accessibility.
Hughes’ pedigree is unquestionable. With over 10 years of cooking under his belt, he’s one of Canada’s most prominent chefs. He owns two well-respected Montreal restaurants — Garde Manger and Le Bremner — and has his own show on the Food Network, Chuck’s Day Off.
Fueled by a longtime love of Vans and the desire to rethink traditional kitchen footwear, Hughes has designed a shoe that’s tough enough for the kitchen but stylish enough for catering backstage at world class music festivals or skating his native Montreal. Chuck’s passion for street culture, skating, music, art and the kitchen are all evident in this exclusive collaboration with Canadian streetwear pillar Off The Hook and the Vans x OTH store.
About The Off The Hook x Vans Store
OTH is home to Canada’s first Vans lifestyle boutique, establishing itself as Canada’s benchmark Vans shoe and apparel destination. Launched in May 2011, Vans by OTH is the first global initiative ever developed by Vans in partnership with a retailer.
release info and a few more pics after the jump Read More
Words via Hypebeast:
“Comme des Garçons SHIRT and Supreme recently teamed to produce a special 2014 Spring/Summer Collection with Vans chiming in with a set of footwear offerings as well.
Using the same fabric Comme des Garçons used for the apparel items, Vans re-interpreted both the Sk8-Hi and the Era, incorporating the signature visual themes of the collection. The Era, appearing in both black and red, combines both white polka dot and stripes for the upper and features the Supreme tag stamped on the heel and Comme des Garçons SHIRT printed on the white rubber outsole. The Sk8-Hi features a similar upper while also paying a graphical tribute to late NYC skate legend Harold Hunter.”
THESE WILL BE RELEASED SOME TIME IN JUNE
individual pics after the jump Read More
Vans Vault is bringing back one of our favorite patterns for the Spring. The OG Sk8-Hi LX “Skate Monkey” pack, being offered in two new colorways, featuring a canvas upper with a “Skate Monkey” print designed by Taka Hayashi, with either deep blue or tan suede uppers and a vintage-inspired print for the side panel. You can’t forget the eye-popping jazz stripe that creates a vibrant contrast to the subdued colors of the canvas. These are starting to show up at your local Vault dealers now.
pic via Hypebeast
-
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!
