Vans x Boys of Summer
A celebration of the friendships that make skateboarding fun. A follow on from last year’s capsule release, this latest Vans x Boys of Summer collection pays homage to iconic Vans styles from the ‘90s through a three part release of co-designed Vans skate shoes. Assigned to the brand’s Skate Classics collection and featuring creative revisions of the AVE Classic VCU, the Mike Carroll VCU and the Sk8-Hi VCU.
With an aim of encapsulating the essence of skateboarding in a lighthearted and nostalgic manner, the Boys of Summer legacy started back in 2015 when a self-titled 57 minute edit was released by Supreme and Vans Syndicate’s Jeff Kutter (a.k.a Jeff Potocar). Named after Don Henley’s ‘84 track and released as a surprise project that featured some of the most influential skaters at the time, including Eric Koston, Jason Dill, Mark Gonzales, Guy Mariano and Call Me 917’s Alex Olson, as well as Vans team riders Andrew Allen, Jeff Grosso and Elijah Berle. Due to its unsurprising popularity, ‘Boys of Summer 2’ was released in 2019 and featured some of the same favourites alongside Beatrice Domond, Leo Baker and adidas’ newest pro skater Kader Sylla.
The first Vans x Boys of Summer capsule was released just last year (2021) featuring new colourways of the Vans Skate Old Skool, the Rowan Pro and the multi-layered Varix, this latest collaboration follows on with tradition to feature three more co-designed Vans skate shoes. The previous release welcomed what the collection called ‘shared pro models’ with skaters Rowan Zorilla and Aiden Mackey jointly designing the Vans x Boys of Summer Old Skool, and both Steve Lee and Chris ‘Manute’ Shonting jointly curating the collection’s take on the Vans Varix. For 2022’s capsule, the Boys of Summer turn to the likes of Atiba Jefferson, Anthony Van Engelen and Tino Razo for influence.
A creative take on Anthony Van Engelen’s signature, the Vans AVE Classic VCU has been co-designed with friend and skate legend Eric Dressen from the Boys of Summer crew. Featuring Vans Skate Classics upgrades throughout, including updated DURACAP reinforcements, a PopCush footbed and all-new two part foxings, this Vans skate shoe is styled in a black and white colourway. Black nubuck uppers are styled with white stitch ollie patch overlays across each exterior side wall, whilst embossed ‘Dressen’ and ‘Anthony’ branding appears across each exterior wall. A translucent rubber outsole features cursive ‘Boys of Summer’ branding that pays creative tribute to the graphic stylings of Alexis Ross and the OG Boys of Summer edits, whilst each underfoot features similar signature branding. Finished with a Vans Skate Classics checkerboard flag label, vintage style tongue patches and with bright red ‘Off The Wall Skateboarding’ heel scabs.
Vans Art Director Ako Jefferson and his twin brother Atiba Jefferson are the co-designers behind the archive revived Vans Mike Carroll VCU for the latest Boys of Summer capsule. Black nubuck uppers and a perforated toe box pay homage to the original aesthetic of the padded mid-collar skate shoe, whilst red cursive ‘Boys of Summer’ branding decorates each translucent outsole. Similar to the Vans AVE Classic VCU, asymmetric signatures detail each outsole and each part-mesh padded tongue, whilst Vans Skate Classics details include a checkerboard flag label above each midfoot perforated stripe and bright red Off The Wall Skateboarding’ heel scabs.
California skaters Tino Razo and Cody Simmons are the two masterminds behind the collection’s Sk8-Hi VCU revision. In keeping with the monochrome aesthetics of the drop, black suede and white canvas uppers are featured alongside a translucent outsole with white print ‘Boys of Summer’ text. Tributes to both skaters are detailed underfoot in an insole matching shade of lime green, whilst further white print reference appears across each heel. Finished with contrast white stitching, a black leather side wall stripe and with Skate Classics performative updates throughout.
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