Vans has always been great about taking their love and devotion for seminal rock bands and integrating it into their brand in a very genuine way (I’m quite partial to the Iron Maiden slip-ons myself). They have now teamed up with Suicidal Tendencies to put out a canvas wallet with all over pattern, contrasting trim, an old school velcro closure, as well as, several inner compartments for stashing plenty of cards. Of course, what rock wallet would be complete without an attached chain with lobster clasp.

Yesterday we showed you the HUF x Converse shoe with proceeds going toward the against AIDS. Today we’ll bringing you another HUF collaboration this time with Vans. Available exclusively through HUF stores, the Vans Old Skool by HUF is constructed with a canvas upper and full grain leather heelcub. It also features a siped outsole, custom printed triangle pattern on the midsole and custom woven labels and embroidery. As you can see it comes in black, navy, and cardinal red.

photos courtesy of hypebeast

The book that traces the roots of skate shoe culture is finally coming to the skate and sneakerheads of SF and LA. Prepare to see some new shoe designs that’ll be rehashing all the classics from the book!

If you’re wondering why Simi Valley is on the to-do list, it’s because they have the best skateboard memorabilia/museum around. Definitely worth seeing, and the park’s more than worth rolling around. An honorable nod to the right people.

A rather buttery croc skin Half Cab… But they’re a candle to the sun that is the Proper x Vans Holiday collaboration collection. Hot damn.

Last night MIA Skate Shop, Vans, Vapors, and PS14 teamed up with local hero Joel Meinholz (who’s also interviewed in the next issue of Vapors) to sponsor the Loose Cannons on the Run bike race, and then female arm wrestling. (I have no idea how female arm wrestling came into the picture, but it actually sounds pretty entertaining.) The bike race ends at the bar, PS14, where the winner collects the glory and all riders get $2 beers, then fall off of their bikes riding back home drunk.

From Joel:

Last night was FUN!!! Thanks to everyone coming together. In the bike race we had around 50 riders, the Ladies Arm Wrestling we had 20 girls and a great turnout at PS14. Again thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. Have a great day.

Don’t let the hipster fashion victims ruin your enjoyment of bikes, I say.

[Show as slideshow]

If Vans can come back from the brink to become a major player (pre-Geoff Rowley, their shoes sucked), and Nike SB is doing Dunks in old Airwalk colorways (black/turquoise/white), what’s stopping Airwalk from coming back? Vans owned the ’70s, but Airwalk was the king of skate shoes in the late ’80s/early ’90s, no question about that.

I know the answer, I’m just saying…

My London connect Andy over at Fixed Gear London hit me up with their latest collab bike with Vans. With their fixed collection and partnerships with MASH SF and FGL, Vans is on top of their shit. The bike is dope, black-on-black matte and gloss checkerboard pattern, peep photos of the whole bike and the background and parts list in the next issue of Vapors.

Random rant: I really like riding fixies, it’s too bad about the fixie fashion victims rolling around looking like Puck from Real World. Basically the whole hipster aspect is making me feel corny when I’m riding my bike down the street. I was riding past the shitty skatepark in Venice yesterday, and there was a posse of dudes in 3/4 jeans, “core” $200 messenger bags and little wool cycling caps sitting next to the park with their Fruity Pebbles-colored fixies. It was embarrassing. Venice locs like Venice Ennis and Jesse Martinez need to pat those herbs’ pockets. (Although I hear Ennis is doing time, unfortunately. Nice guy.) I stopped to say hi to Steve Hernandez, and he called me out for riding a fixie, and I really had no comeback.

Then again, Sheckler makes me feel cheesy about skating sometimes, and that hasn’t stopped me. I guess I’ll just need enough self-assurance/self-confidence to roll through this.

Another Clyde Singleton Debacle

(Editor’s note: Quince is part Native American, hence the Indian humor.)

What’s the difference between a Cleveland Indian and, say, an Indianapolis Indian?
Well, Cleveland Indians are a baseball team and the other is a lost Indian, far away from home.

Do people ever confuse you with Quincy, M.D.?
don’t think so.

What About Quincy Jones?
No, but people love to call me that all the time.

The rapper, Consequence?
Maybe we do look alike.

Why did Homer Simpson get a shoe from Vans before Eddie from Iron Maiden?
Eddie’s shoe was really in the works before Homer’s shoe, but who really cares?

Why do I know who Eddie is?
Because you’re a skater who watched a lot of skate videos; otherwise, you have no reason to know that.

Okay. What’re your three favorite kicks of all time?
Only three is hard to say. Number one, I would begin Vans Old Skool, then the 1996 eS SLB, then the adidas Stan Smith.

Can we keep Mrs. No-Shore-ious P.I.G. between you and I?
First off, I would not want to keep Mrs. P.I.G between you and I. You can have all that.

What do you think makes a dope shoe? Is it the parts, the whole, the colorways? The names involved seem as important as anything else these days.

A dope shoe is the overall execution. The concept, shape, fit, function, use of color, materials, outsole design and pattern all play their parts. Names can help, but so does the brand…Vans, marketing, etc.

Your favorite shoe you’ve had a hand in designing?

A new shoe I designed (that’s coming out soon), the Repeater. It is a cold cement technology and one of the lightest skate shoes I’ve ever felt. It has comfort, style and great board feel.

With Chucks, Vans Eras, and Dunks we’ve seen one shoe from the past reinterpreted a hundred different ways. Do you think this trend is gonna end soon, or do you think it’ll have some staying power.

No. This trend of biters will exist as long as these companies stay strong in the public’s eye. My personal feeling, Vans gets bit the most. They have more classic looks that the brand owns: Half Cabs, Sk8-His, Chukka, Eras and the best: Old Skools.

Are you a fan of collabos?

I’m just a fan of collabs when it can make a shoe look better. So no. And, yes, collabs are played out.

Does a designer need to develop his own personal style? Or should he true to the brand’s style?

Both. A good designer has an obligation to be true to the brand’s style but at the same time the designer was hired based on his skills and personal style to be put into the product.

How did you develop your style?

My style comes from a tight-knit group of friends who shared similar passions with skateboarding. And my family background. My grandpa, Quince Hansen, was born on an Indian reservation in Arizona. The interest in my Native American heritage inspires my own unique personal style.

Current shoe design is pretty obviously stuck in retro mode. Do you think design was better before, or is this just a trend playing itself out?

This trend is going to be around for some time to come. Although there are some designers like my friend, Josh Brubaker (Supra), who have given the skate industry some life when it comes to design…the Skytop.

In ten words or less, describe the adidas Kobe shoe designed by Audi.

Fucking dumb.

Where do you see design going from here?

Wherever I take it.

[Sorry, Vans and Active both asked me to take down the photo of these exclusives, saying I was blowing up their spot--which was never my intent. You'll have to wait till the October issue of Vapors drops to see both of the amazing Taka designs... Sorry for giving and taking away the images, and apologies to Taka for not giving him credit originally, either. My bad all around...]

Josh & Brandon Brubaker, Supra and Converse
A Clyde Singleton Production

In this century, there’ve been plenty of famous brothers. The Wright Brothers. Blues Brothers. Jackson 5. Da Bee Gees. And I ain’t ’een gone count them Jonas dudes in, due to their dangerously low levels of swag. But y’all know where I’m goin’. Anyhow, these are the Brubakers: Brandon and Josh. Me and these boys go back like some spinal cords. I first met Brandon when he popped up on my doorstep in LA with a bag of random sample kicks, which we’d all come to know as 4ce Footwear. After letting him in the gates, I realized not only had he been swag-splashing the shoe game since ’96 but, he was a force to be reckoned with in the future of footwear. Step into 2008. Now the new bawss of all bawsses over at Cons footwear, as well as the proud father of his first baby girl. The future’s looking brighter than ever for Brandon.

As for Josh, tha’s my nukka! Young Jeezy’s been in the shoe game a little over five years, and this dude has been straight hurtin’ feelin’s! Look if your resume includes designing for Sole Technology. How ’bout head designer for Supra? And being the man behind the Chad Muska Supra Skytop? I don’t think you’d have much more to say. But we ain’t tal’m ’bout your resume! And Josh has a lot more to say with the launch of Supra’s new NS line. Truth be told, I don’t think there’s much that can stop both these dudes moving forward. So without further ado, ladies and gentleman, it’s my honor to introduce none other than the Brothers Brubaker. (R.I.P. Mr. Brubaker; I know you see this from the heavens above, so kick ya feet back and smile. These kids are carrying tradition like none other.) Folks, y’all are now in tune with the finest. Jeah!

How’d you guys get into designing shoes?
B: I just basically fell into it in 1996. Met this cat that was the head of design at Vans and he asked me if I could crack off some designs. And the rest is a wash… Been doin’ it ever since.
J: My brother.
What’s your favorite shoe you’ve had a hand in designing?
B: Can’t name just one, but my faves are Vans Rowley I, Cardiel, and Hassan, and the shit you haven’t seen from Cons yet.
J: The Skytop.

What were some of your early influences, as far as shoes and designers?
B: You can’t fuck with Chuck Taylors, just how simple and dope it was and is. Timeless designs, that’s my shit.
J: Skateboarding, music, and just noticing shoes from a young age. Designers I always looked up to? My brother as the illest.
Does a designer need to put his own personal stamp on his designs? Or should he stay true to the brand?
J: Yeah, having your own style is very important, but you need to know how to design outside of your box. To me, designing a product that works for a company that is not your style, that’s what makes you a good designer. I feel like my style is always evolving, because there are a lot of things that inspire me. I was lucky to learn about how the shoe game works from watching my brother, before I actually started working for a brand.
Current shoe design is obviously in retro mode. Do you think design was better before, or is this just a trend playing itself out?
B: I don’t think about that bullshit.
J: That’s a tough one. I love retro shoes, but I love originality more. I think we’ll see a lot more retro/futuristic designs in the near future. High tops are back.
Alright; three worst shoes of all time.
B: Too many.
J: There are too many bad shoes to only mention three.

Three favorites?
B: All the kicks my baby bro does. He is ahead of the game! Couldn’t have a better homie.
J: Right now I’m feelin that Raf Simons Vandal boot, that Lanvin high top in magenta, John Varvatos Chuck Taylor highs. High tops all day!

Josh, you ever steal ya brothers kicks, skate in ’em, then clean ֦’em up, and put ’em back without thinking he’d notice the ollie marks?
J: Nah, we’re eight years apart, so his shoes were way too big for me growing up. Plus he always had me laced anyway.

Brandon, you’re a father now. Besides me peeing on your couch, how’s life changed of late?
B: Besides having a couch that smells like pee? You know homie, my daughter’s the best thing I’ve ever designed. Donavyn, you’re my heart! Baby-D represent.
What’s the most you’ve spent on a pair of shoes?
B: I’m not into that shit. Pampers have taken the place of shoe collecting.
J: $350.

Okay, the Mayor needs to know: What influence do trips of the Rover to Mars have on your shoe designs?
B: Red kicks?
J: The Mayor is trippin’! I don’t get all deep with influences. I surround myself with good people and friends I have had since I was in elementary school.

Who’s got the worst feet? Me, Tyrone Biggums or Brandon?
J: You take the throne on that one.

Are y’all familiar with a “club fossil”? It’s when you’re at the club gettin’ wavy and some chump step on ya shoe, and leave that ungawdly mark atop it. The shyt’s straight disgustya. So, when’s the last time you were the recipient of the club fossil?
B: Can’t remember my last club experence, but people better watch their step.
J: Yeah, I hate that. It’s been a while.
Where do you see design going from here?
B: No limitations. I’m just gonna keep on making ill shit.
J: High tops getting even taller and just more shoe companies trying to push the envelope of design.

Thank ya both for ya time.

This Feature is also available in Vapors 49 – The Sneaks Issue