Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel brand, commemorated 50 years of heritage and progression with one hell of a party in Toronto earlier this month.
Dinosaur Jr, Jazz Cartier and Tommy Genesis ripped it up and the company celebrated the release of Vans Pro Classic Anniversary Collection.
With decades of proven performance evolution supported by an illustrious team of skateboarding icons and future legends of the sport, the Pro Classics Anniversary Collection is modernized with Vans’ Pro Skate performance technology, ULTRACUSH HD sock liners for resilient cushioning, and DURACAP reinforced underlays in high abrasion areas for premium durability and consistent fit. Embodying a slimmer shape for a closer fit in the heel, arch and forefoot, Vans Pro Classics are engineered to withstand the everyday wear and tear of modern skateboarding.
Each style in the Collection pays homage to influential cultural milestones from Vans’ groundbreaking era of 1966-2000. What began as simple renovations in colour, fabric and shape bolstered true connections with action sports icons such as original Dogtown Z-boy Stacy Peralta, celebrated surfer Duke Kahanamoku, and Vans’ skateboarding legend Christian Hosoi. Whether it was taking the Hawaiian shirt off Duke’s back to design a custom pair of floral Authentics, or padding the collar in the original Era to create the first “Off The Wall” shoe in skateboarding, Vans has championed reinvention since 1966, paving the way in design progression to meet the critical demands of skateboarding today.
This past January, for three days, the Know Show rolled into Vancouver and showcased the hottest new looks in action sport for Canadian retailers and the brands they stock. Vans had an amazing booth, which I popped into on my way over to meet with cool gals at Lira Clothing, which contained a showcase of museum pieces from the Vans archives. The display was fascinating and photo worthy.
Vans Museum at Vancouver’s Know Show
Article and Vancouver photography by Helen Siwak, with a big shout-out to TO’s Liz Hodgson who tried her best.