Words via Proper:

“Someone once said that most great ideas start off as bad ones, so it was no surprise when our initial pitch to Vans to work on the new ComfyCush platform was met with some cautious trepidation. The concept was simple, to bring the excitement and discovery of the Vans warehouse sales we enjoyed as Southern California youths to a younger generation that would never have the opportunity to experience it. Our presentation consisted of a simple color palette of heavy weight canvas and suede, and some shoes. Hundreds of shoes in fact, page after page of Eras, Slip-Ons, and Sk8-Hi’s in a never ending number of color combinations. Mono-tones, duo-tones, tri-tones, quad-tones the list went on and on. Symmetrical, asymmetrical, mis-matched and everything in between. Only when the raw material began to arrive did the real work began. Unhindered by design briefs, Proper’s very own Jordan Curry set fourth on a process of organic creativity in canvas and suede. Day after day, week after week he immersed himself in the process emerging only to share his latest masterpiece. Steadfast in his dedication to avoid repetition each pair was a unique creation, a true manifestation of the original concept, from mild to wild and everything in between, no two pairs the same. Perfectly imperfect.

Executing any collaboration can be a challenge, much less hundreds of them in a single shot. Has it been done before, not like this, will it be done again, probably not if the Vans production team has their say in it. Part old, part new, completely unique. We hope you enjoy finding your favorite pair as much as we did making them”.

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Blends partners up with Vans Vault once again for a special take on Vans’ COMFYCUSH series. Introducing the brand’s latest innovation, COMFYCUSH, a series featuring lightweight cupsole composition with high-performance foam technology for optimized foot support that doesn’t pull you down. In celebration of this new technology Blends and Vans Vault brought forth the notorious “BONE JAZZ-STRIPE” design in the iconic Old Skool silhouette adorning the shoes with hairy suede uppers with leather details inside and out. There will be a Black (TŌRI) colorway, as well as a Marshmallow (SUGIRU) colorway.

The Blends x Vans Vault Old Skool COMFYCUSH LX drops this Saturday, 2/16 at all Blends locations and online via Blendsus.com.

 
This two-part video narrative titled “TŌRISUGIRU” (Passing through) conveys the interconnection of two worlds in total solitude. Leading off with a more abrasive sound and feel “TŌRI” conveys a youngster nullified from the world’s premeditated chaos haunted by self-inflicted boredom. While the first video’s mood communicates disruptiveness, second video “Sugiru” portrays contentment in age and solitude. Following an older gentlemen around his traditional Japanese home as he does his day-to-day rituals.

 

 

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North Park San Diego’s Gym Standard has gotten together with Vans, to create these two awesome OG Old Skool LX’s.  It’s been a long time coming, but we finally get to see what they’ve been working on.  Fun fact:  I learned through a short conversation with Edwin that he was Blends SD’s original shop manager when they first opened, and he also used to work for Vans corporate back in the day, under Mr. Tom Cooke!  How’s that for some cool guy industry cred!  K sorry to embarass you Edwin!  Anyways, the shoes were designed with a lot of emphasis on different textures and materials.  Right away you’ll notice that each shoe features a mixed combination of hairy suede, 8 oz. canvas, nubuck leather, virgin leather, pigskin, and something called kidskin.  Perhaps you can ask them what that is, but all we know is the shoes are dope as hell.  The colorways chosen are very unique, and are instant classics if you ask us.  One pair receives a violet, navy, blue, and red colorway, while the other comes in all green.  Both feature marshmallow foxing, and sit on top of the OG gum waffle sole.  The heel panels and heel pad lining of each shoe feature a gold foil stamping of a sun logo, providing just the right touch of customization to know these aren’t your off-the-shelf Vault OG Old Skools.  The shoes will come with a drawer box, which we fuckin’ love and can’t express how much this matters to us Vans collectors!  Tying into their San Diego roots, there is hidden artwork that reveals itself when the drawer is pulled out, done by local tattoo artist Sergio Hernandez, owner of Pops Tattoo Shop.  Congrats on a dope, well thought out, clean, and just simply perfect collaboration!

Each pair will go for $100 and are releasing in-store on Saturday.  There is no official word if there will be an online release, so follow their social media for more info.

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This is Kith’s first Vans collab, and leave it up to them to come out strong for their initial offering.  As a longtime avid sneaker collector, myself, who supported Ronnie Fieg early on during his David.Z days, it comes as no surprise that Ronnie, an enthusiast of sneakers, who keeps his ear to the street and his finger on the pulse of the current sneaker culture, would release a Vans collab of this magnitude.  I mean, first off, Kith decided to bring on Japanese label Mastermind for a 3-way collection, who design some of the dopest Japan-exclusive Vans.  That alone says we didn’t come to fuck around.  Next, just look at the amount of details that went into each shoe.  You have ultra-premium leather, sherpa linings, custom-branded lace eyelets, debossed vulcanized foxing, as well as some custom metal logos all over the entire collection.  You might even say that there is too much customization going on, but I think they were going for the over-the-top first impression, agree?  They also have a slightly more subtle tonal black offering as well, but even those still have the logos, branding, and customization throughout each shoe.  We don’t see pricing yet, and that’s scary, because I want them all, and I know it’s going to hurt!  Y’all couldn’t have just released one or two pairs, huh?!  Congrats on your first Vans collab, and hopefully you do many more!  (Waiting for a Salmon Toe Vans release!)

Words via Kith:

“Kith collaborates with Vans for the first time, as the brand adds to the coveted lineage of mastermind’s partnership with Vans. These tri-branded models include two Sk8-Hi Zip LX, an Old Skool LX, and an OG Classic Slip-On.

The Sk8-Hi Zip LX in black features a canvas and nubuck upper with silver hardware, while the brown model is crafted from leather with lux sherpa lining and gold hardware. This brown makeup is also applied to the Old Skool LX, while the OG Classic Slip-On is coated in a black Kith monogram pattern. All four models also have the collection’s phrase “Peace on Earth / World on Fire” debossed into the soles.”

Kith x Mastermind World releases January 18th at all Kith shops

Edit with pricing and official description from Kith on 1/17/19 at 3:56 PM PDT:

Kith x mastermind WORLD x Vans OG Classic Slip-On LX – The OG Classic Slip-On LX is executed in black makeup and features a canvas upper accented with an all-over printed Kith classic and Mastermind Skull & Crossbones logo. The nubuck quarter panels provide added style as well as the elasticated side panels. The padded collar ensures a comfortable fit as well as the quilted satin liner and custom leather inserts. Other elements include – the high rubber foxing, the reinforced toe box, the debossed World On Fire logo on the left midsole, the debossed Peace On Earth logo on the right midsole, the Vans off the wall license plate heel logo, the metal Kith classic logo on the right heel. Lastly, this model sits atop a vulcanized rubber midsole and the waffle outsole which features a printed Skeleton graphic. $125 USD.

Kith x mastermind WORLD x Vans OG Old Skool LX – The OG Old Skool LX is executed in a brown makeup and features a premium leather upper accented with a comfortable shearling liner. The V-cut tongue provides added style as well as the metal co-branded eyelets and rope laces with metal co-branded aglets. The all-over debossed Skull & Crossbones logo ensures added style as well as the stitched formstripes. Other elements include the debossed Kith and Mastermind logo on the toe box, the reinforced toe box, debossed World On Fire logo on the left midsole, debossed Peace On Earth logo on the right midsole, the Vans off the wall license plate heel logo and the Metal Skull & Crossbones on the left heel and Metal Kith classic logo on the right heel. Lastly, this model sits atop a vulcanized rubber midsole and a waffle outsole with a printed Skeleton graphic. $185 USD.

Kith x mastermind WORLD x Vans SK8-Hi Reissue Zip LX – The Sk8-Hi Reissue Zip LX model is available in black or brown color schemes. The black model features a nubuck upper accented with a quilted satin liner while the brown model features a premium leather upper accented with a shearling liner. Both models feature Off The Wall tongue tabs, custom leather inserts, high rubber foxing, a reinforced toe box, metal co-branded eyelets, rope laces, a metal Skull & Crossbones on the collar, debossed branding on the collar, formstripes, and midsole. Other elements include – the Vans off the wall license plate heel logo, rear zipper closure, a vulcanized rubber midsole, and a waffle outsole with a printed Skeleton graphic. $225 USD.

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