Vans OTW Collection | Action Sports, Art, Music, Design, and Authentic Street Fashion

OTW Advocate Dimitri Coste in Mage Design

OTW Advocate Dimitri Coste is featured in Mage Design. Take a look and meet Mr. Jerome Mage as well!

http://magedesign.com/pleasure/2010/05/26/dimitri-coste-is-the-king-of-the-jungle/

Labels: dimitri coste, jerome mage, mage design

Crooked Tongues interviews OTW Director Tom Cooke

Take an exclusive read with OTW Director Tom Cooke to learn more about the OTW collection and what to expect in the following months!

http://www.crookedtongues.com/features/2010/May/24/vans-otw-tom-cooke-interview/

Labels: crooked tongues, tom cooke, united kingdom

Case Study House #22: The Stahl House

(image credit: Julius Shulman)

OTW. While the acronym stands for "Off The Wall", the Vans OTW collection stands as a unique brand that celebrates the sophisticate in all of us, especially the natural growth of young creatives. You might have noticed in the OTW brand video, the modernist environment where our brand advocates occupied. This is the Case Study House #22 also known as Stahl House.

Here's a few interesting facts about The Stahl House and you'll understand why this house was appropriate to showcase the OTW collection.

The house was designed by Pierre Koeing. According to Wikipedia,
"Koenig practiced mainly on the west coast and was most notable for the design of the Case Study House No. 21 and 22 in 1960. Both 21 (the Bailey House) and 22 (the Stahl House) were constructed on dramatic, otherwise-unbuildable sites."
The house was used in numerous fashion shoots, ad campaigns and at least five films.
The Stahl House was ranked as one of the top 150 structures according to the American Institute of Architects.

Labels: #22, case study, otw, Pierre Koeing, stahl house, vans

It's the Soul of a Sole.

If there's one thing I look at when selecting a shoe it's the silhouette but I always tend to take a glance at its outsole, afterall it is the foundation of a shoe's design. Vans has always kept its outsole (the waffle sole) consistent throughout its 40+ years being around, no small feat in today's age of copy&paste design culture. In fact, take an in-depth look at Vans OTW's Larkin and you'll take note of its slightly updated subtle heel tab logo and tread pattern, a nod toward its origin of Vans heritage.

Take a closer look at the detailed stitching around the cupsole and you'll notice it takes cues from both the high end trainer range. Of course having a full-length EVA midsole ensures the Larkin is a classic pair of Vans that graduates you to that next level of aspirational living. And yes herringbone fabric with leather binding doesn't hurt either. Yes, I'm gonna say it, these shoes are straight butters.

Labels: fashion, herringbone, high end sneaker, larkin, leather, outsole, sneaker, sole, soul, vans, vans heritage

OTW Launch Party in Downtown Los Angeles

Vans formally launched the OTW Collection last Friday May 14 at the infamous Haas building rooftop located in Downtown Los Angeles. Being a resident of downtown LA, I've become accustomed in making my rounds around downtown.

The Haas building has been a subject of curiosity for me. Sure enough as soon as I arrived the Vans crew was busy at work. I particularly enjoyed OTW advocate Eric Elms' 'Wish U Were Here' art signage. In fact, display of artistry seemed to be the keynote of the night.

I walked up to the rooftop and witnessed Mister Cartoon put his finishing touches to his wall mural. Already I knew that this wouldn't be your typical event.

I haven't been out in ages so reconnecting with old faces was something that was akin to an insect coming out of its pupa. But hey what better way to say hello to my fellow Angelenos than a rooftop party. You could call it a 'blast from the past,' old friends and new friends.

One particular new person I had a chance to reconnect with was the infamous blogger, Mr. Marcus Troy of 'Marcus of Troy' as I call him.We spent about an hour or so talking about, well blogging. The man is always on his hustle.

The evening had all the wonders of a good event. Excellent catering. Hennessey did their utmost in generously serving their unique cocktails throughout the night. Music from Earl Boykins and OTW's The Blackouts set the tone for the evening with RZA as the special guest performance as well.

Guest performer of the night, RZA was interviewed by OTW advocate Atiba Jefferson for an upcoming interview and photoshoot with RZA and The Black Knights in The Skateboard Mag.

These images of RZA are from OTW's very own advocate, Dimitri Coste. Be sure to check out his excellent photo blog here - http://dimitricoste.blogspot.com/

Vans even had the foresight of setting up a photobooth.

Here's a full slideshow of the night's proceedings:

Labels: dimitri coste, downtown los angeles, eric elms, haas, marcus, marcus troy, mister cartoon, mr. cartoon, party, photo booth, rooftop, rza, the blackouts, the skateboard mag, troy, wu tang

Childhood to Adulthood

For the longest time that I could remember, growing up in the San Fernando Valley, Reseda to be exact (yes home of South Seas apartments of Karate Kid fame), I spent those hot summers running around in Vans. I preferred wearing a pair of white Slip-Ons doing my utmost to keep them clean. Of course by Summer's end, those beloved pair of vulcanized shoes would be dirtied, soiled and weathered. I grew to love those shoes as they became an extension of me. I still wear Vans and its no surprise that the shoes remain classic, in both its design and its unique placement in pop culture.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

OTW Advocate Dimitri Coste in Mage Design

Friday, May 28, 2010

Crooked Tongues interviews OTW Director Tom Cooke

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Case Study House #22: The Stahl House

It's the Soul of a Sole.

Monday, May 17, 2010

OTW Launch Party in Downtown Los Angeles

Friday, May 14, 2010

Childhood to Adulthood