Vans x Andrew Reynolds
Dubbed ‘The Boss’ and known for his illustrious skate legacy that began back in the early ‘90s, Baker Skateboards’ Andrew Reynolds is the latest skater to join the Anaheim brand. 1998 Thrasher Magazine Skater of the Year and coined the tenth most influential skateboarder of all time by Transworld Skateboarding Magazine in 2011, Reynolds partners with Vans to release a creative capsule collection inspired by heritage workwear and the California based brand’s latest Skate Classics initiative.
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Born in Lakeland, Florida and finding his footing in skate at the age of just nine when he first witnessed Vision’s ‘Psycho Skate’ commercial in ‘88 and first caught sight of Powell Peralta’s Bones Brigade videos, Reynolds has grown to become a household name known for his restless energy, inventiveness and his endless contribution to the evolving skate scene. Noting his greatest influences as skaters such as Clay King, Robbie Bassford, Chad Muska and UK native Tom Penny, the skater soon graduated from his Florida Amateur Skateboard League (FASL) appearances to be head hunted by all-time legend Tony Hawk and Birdhouse in the early ‘90s. Appearing in Birdhouse’s ‘The End’ edit in ‘98, the same year he won his SOTY accolade with Thrasher, Reynolds was soon internationally recognised as a force to be reckoned with. Founder of Baker Skateboards and one part of the visionary trio behind Bakerboys Distribution, the umbrella division that manages brands such as Shane Heyl’s Shake Junt, Deathwish and part record label part skatewear brand Illegal Civilization, Andrew Reynolds’ history is one that never ceases to inspire with sponsorships with the likes of Spitfire Wheels and Stance backed by a memorable 13 signature shoe stint with core skate brand Emerica.
Following on from his aforementioned Reynolds Cruisers, Reynolds Lights and Reynolds Classics legacy with Emerica, Reynolds turns to timeless influence and workwear traditions for his debuting signature collection with Vans. Styled with similarity to designs such as the Workwear Pack Chukka Boot from 2013 and Vans continued partnership with Carhartt, all new revisions of the Half Cab ‘92, Old Skool and SK8-Hi are all uniquely styled in honour of the skater’s seemingly ageless sense of appeal. Pairing classic textures of denim, leather and heavy canvas with checkered plaid in honour of Vans’ all-new Skate Classics flag label, the throwback Vans Skate Half Cab ‘92 features earthy uppers and a crisp white Waffle outsole, whilst the updated knurl, two-part foxing and molded heel counter adhere to Vans’ revised construction for 2021. Classic PopCushTM inserts and a SickStickTM rubber compound delivers a resilient day-on-day skate, with Steve Caballero's iconic ‘Half Cab’ brand patch mirrored by an inverted and custom ‘World’s No. 1 Skateboarding Shoe’ tongue tab across the front of its elastic-strapped design. Interchangeable laces and a checkered plaid insole pay tribute to the skater’s eclectic character, with bright red ‘Off The Wall Skateboarding’ heel scabs sealing each sneaker across the rear.
Opting for a two tone industrial colouring of navy and khaki, both the Vans Skate SK8-Hi and Vans Skate Old Skool remain true to their infamous #36 and Style 38 blueprints, whilst their Skate Classics revision also sees the same deeper knurl pattern, molded heel counter and increased DURACAP underlays as their Half Cab ‘92 counterpart. Odes to denim wear are referenced through the contrast coloured reinforced stitchings across the navy suede uppers, with Vans’ all-new red and white checkerboard tab displayed across both profiles’ side wall stripe and inverted custom tongue. Loyal to their skate-centric formula and Reynolds’ passion for progression and performance, the Vans x Andrew Reynolds release is one that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to capturing evolutionary design in its truest form.
