Get Skool’d: Vans (Re)Designs A Classic For Today
Let’s flash back to the 1970s. What a time—err, uh, so they say. While most of us absorbed in today’s cultural conglomerate were nothing more than distant dreams of the future, our parents and their carefree contemporaries were steeped in all that “groovy” aura floating around back then. From the ‘70s alone came punk rock, bell-bottom jeans, tie-dye, and, of course, the iconic Vans Old Skool—how could we forget?
After the classic skate shoe company celebrated its tenth birthday in 1976, the debut of “Style 36” in 1977 received instant admiration among SoCal skaters and kids involved in the bubbling underground music scenes beginning to take shape. This warm reception quickly solidified the sneaker in the Vans pantheon of greats and gave it valued credibility among the youth. Adorned with the now-signature Sidestripe logo, this famous piece of footwear set a seminal precedent for the brand that would be followed for years to come, giving way to countless iterations and creative collaborations.
Fast-forward to today, and one of the only things remaining from the bygone era is Vans and its trusted catalog of kicks. Oh, and flared denim, courtesy of Pharrell.
Honoring the legacy of the time-honored skate shoe, the genre-bending brand is rolling out the all-new Premium Old Skool Music Collection as a tasteful ode to the profound impact the Old Skool has had across time and industries. First previewed at this year’s Vans Media Summit in Los Angeles last week, the latest run of Old Skool designs aims to continue inspiring the ascending generation through style, comfort, and, as always, unyielding individuality.
Across the exclusive two-day exhibition, guests were immersed in a Vans wonderland, traversing the many lives of the illustrious silhouette. Featuring a specialized Old Skool archive curated by Vans lead Historian Catherina Acosta, the bespoke showroom hosted at the Michael Kohn Gallery chronicled the shoe’s evolution from an imaginative idea to a beloved industry icon, finishing with the newest capsule collection.
Crafted with modern construction and refined materials, the Premium Old Skool Music Collection is the culmination of Vans' blended history in music and skateboarding. Boasting enhanced cushioning with 30% bio-based Sola Foam ADC insoles, the evolved Old Skool blends improved feel with archival design details—i.e., glossy sidewalls, higher foxing tape, and nostalgic branding—to produce a shoe that pulls from the past to exist for the present.
Arriving in three distinct batches slated to release throughout the year, each paying homage to a prominent musical epoch, Vans continues to move ahead with reverence and respect for where it has been.
Diving deeper into the Vans Premium Old Skool Music Collection, we tapped some of the faces featured in the new campaign to help us take a closer look at the latest designs and the musical eras they represent.
Punk/Hardcore
Punk is arguably the purest form of self-expression. Brash and unruly at times, the purveyors that bolstered this genre’s popularity in the ‘70s and ‘80s weren’t worried about aesthetics or image. Focused solely on communicating their unbridled rebellion, names like Henry Rollins, Patti Smith, and Sid Vicious stand as just a few of the provocative pillars that represent the crux of Hardcore’s guiding ethos.
“Punk rock is about an explosion of energy,” notes the members of the Indonesian rock trio Voice of Baceprot. “This genre is not about perfection. It’s about passion, attitude, and speaking the truth—even if it is a bit messy.”
As a primary supporter of punk rock for decades, even outfitting a few of its most famous acts, Vans is known for using its platform to empower emerging perspectives like VOB that seek to challenge the status quo. Formed in 2014, Firda Marsya Kurnia, Widi Rahmawati, and Euis Siti Aisyah are the ambitious minds behind the all-female punk band, adding a robust dimension to the already rebellious sound.
Reflecting that raw emotion, Vans used bold leopard prints and standout solids to nod to the original colorways adopted by the earliest headbangers. “The Old Skool has always been a perfect fit for punk rockers because the shoe can handle the chaos,” the group adds. “Just like punks evolve without losing their core identity, so does the new Premium Old Skool.”
Y2K
It’s hard to argue that the early to mid-2000s wasn’t one of the greatest periods in music. With such a recognizable tone, feel, and texture, the music produced in the early aughts just has a different panache—an unspoken je ne sais quoi. “You’re talking about the peak of CDs and music videos actually being shown on TV. It's crazy that pop-punk was the mainstream,” posits indie-rock group The Paranoyds. “We might never experience anything like it. Everything happens so fast now.”
Still, nothing feels more Y2K than the acclaimed Vans Warped Tour. Giving mainstay artists like Paramore, Eminem, Katy Perry, and so many more, their first big break, the longest-running concert series in America holds an integral role in shaping the sound of the now distant decade.
Admirers, as much as they are products of the time period, The Paranoyds recognize the Old Skool’s importance in keeping the Y2K spirit alive. “The Old Skool continues to be a raw representation of SoCal style...the rebellious misfit—it's timeless,” the campaign stars continue.
Boasting the classic checkerboard design, two-tone color blocking, and the statement flame motif, these new Old Skool silhouettes tap into that cherished essence just in time for the Warped Tour’s long-awaited return.
Hip-Hop
It’s long been understood that hip-hop is the voice of the streets, communicating an unfiltered message through rhythm and cadence. Championing the multidimensional discipline inextricably tied to skateboarding and fashion, Vans continues to be a fixture in rap as we meld into this next generation.
With stars like Detroit’s Hi-Tech leading the rising wave of disruptors, the genre continues to redefine what can and should be included under its umbrella. “Hip-hop has been one of the most provocative forms of expression in our world’s history,” the rap trio positions.
Nodding to its deep ties to greats like The Pack, A Tribe Called Quest, A$AP Rocky, Little Simz, Denzel Curry, and more, Vans is catering a capsule of Premium Old Skools to the energy that exudes from the hip-hop community. Stylized with vibrant aesthetics on gumshoe soles—reminiscent of early Odd Future collabs—these colorful kicks call back to the kismet relationship between rap and the Old Skool, one that elevated both entities from its inception.
Head over to Vans.com to learn more and cop the next generation of the Old Skools.
