Vans x WTAPS - From The SLOPES TO THE STREETS

In the age of collaborations we live in today, more and more brands are teaming up to create something new, in hopes of birthing the new “it”. However, with there being a new collab every week, it is becoming harder than ever to stand out. In fact, today there seem to be more collabs that catch our attention in a bad way rather than good. With that being said, there are still many cases out there where two sides teaming up creates something exciting, bringing out the best of both sides. Vault by Vans x WTAPS is one of them.

As mentioned earlier, it is difficult for collaborations to succeed in today’s fashion world, and even more difficult to stay relative in the long run. But the aforementioned duo has always succeeded in staying at the center of attention in the best of ways. Starting in 2005, the relationship between the two brands has constantly kept us on our toes, even in today’s crazy sneaker market.

But what makes a good, long-lasting collaboration? This is a topic that could be discussed for ages amongst fans, but one core element is whether the collab has meaning, a true backbone to it. If two brands with no common story, no shared values collide, more often than not it ends up not becoming the biggest news. Vault by Vans & WTAPS is the complete opposite. In their case, 1+1=3.

WTAPS designer Tetsu Nishiyama aka TET founded his brand in 1996 during the “Ura-Hara” era, the golden age of streetwear. This era was also when skateboarding became major not only in Japan, but the world. Constantly being around skaters, it comes at no surprise that TET mentions the art as one of his major inspirations, along with his signature military-inspired style. Meeting Berto Riechty, one of Vans’ early skaters, is what kicked off the two brands’ ultimate partnership.

Fast forward 17 years, the duo has brought out dozens of collaborations, always bringing out highly anticipated models that capture the essence of both sides perfectly. And once again, the two have joined forces, this time releasing a collection that allows us to gear up for the cold winter that is to come.

While skateboarding might be the first thing you think of when you hear Vans, snowboarding also plays a major role in the brand’s identity. In fact, one of the world’s most influential snowboarders, the half-Japanese Bryain Iguchi, has his own signature models under the brand. It may seem unexpected, but snowboarding & snow gear have had a massive impact on street culture as a whole.

The 90s was a good time for skateboarding. Some of today’s biggest skate brands were born during the time, and today’s so-called “street style” was born. At the time, many skaters were seen wearing baggy jeans, white or black tees, and simple hoodies. Shortly after skate culture became major, snowboarding also became integrated into street style. Contrary to skate fashion, which was rather simple when it came to colors, snowboard fashion wasn’t afraid to be bold; bright neon colors on jackets, crazy technical functions, and experimental silhouettes.

Today, it is common to see people pairing colorful shell jackets with denim & sneakers, or people in head-to-toe techwear, enough to climb a mountain, simply roaming the city streets. A big reason why street fashion & outdoor, techy garments can be paired seamlessly today is thanks to snowboarding.

Today, you might not see too many people decked out in full snowboard gear in the streets. But if you take a look at the late 90s or early 00s, you’ll see that many of today’s most influential figures in the street scene were involved & heavily influenced by snowboarding.

An example of this is Hiroshi Fujiwara [@fujiwarahiroshi], who famously was a huge fan of the sport himself. There are many old Japanese magazines where Hiroshi had his own columns showing either of him & his friends snowboarding, or showcasing his favorite snowboarding gear. He’s even collaborated with Burton back in the day, a renowned snowboarding brand, with his legendary brand Electric Cottage, and also creative directed ak457, a sub-line that kicked off in 2010 which also focused on winter apparel.

Another great example is the techwear boss, Errolson Hugh [@erlsn.acr], who also was heavily involved with snowboarding. Before creating their own clothes under the name ACRONYM, they used to design for other brands all orbiting the universe of outdoor sports gear.

Today, this style of fashion seems to be more apparent than ever. The fashion-forward youth are reaching for their winter-proof jackets and baggy waterproof cargo’s to tackle the streets much the same as if they were tackling the mountains, and we are living in a time where both skate/street culture and snowboarding culture are intertwining and becoming symbiotic. 

With that being said, if you look at this Vault by Vans x WTAPS collection, you’ll instantly be able to see how the shared love of snowboarding was interpreted in the items from both sides. WTAPS’ signature military-inspired color palette & details, along with Vans’ long history & background in the sport blend perfectly for the ultimate winter collab. Get your hands on the products, available via vans.com, WTAPS, and selected Vault retailers like Firmament & Suppa. 

Words: sabukaru online / Casey Takumi Omori
Director: @truetosize
Photographer: @_lusan__
Photography Assistant: @itsmagoo
Stylist: Ozzys Vision
Creative Producer: @joey.g123
Production Assistant: @sadaf.leily
Model: @ptr1t