Vans Introduces the Circle Vee

Vans Introduces the Circle Vee

Vans reaches milestone in broader sustainability goals by tapping into renewable materials and knitted uppers that reduce waste

Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel brand, is excited to ​introduce the Vans Circle Vee™, an all-new silhouette that taps into renewable materials that regrow as they are used and a reduced-waste approach — because every little bit helps.

For the Circle Vee, Vans looked at every detail that goes into making a shoe and adjusted where possible. The one-piece knitted natural upper has a classic Vans DNA look and feel and was designed to reduce waste in production compared to Vans’ traditional cut and sew uppers. The upper is stitched directly onto the outsole and is made of 48% organic cotton, 47% hemp, and 5% nylon, while the laces are made from 100% jute natural fibres.

The Circle Vee boasts a brand new EcoCush™ drop in footbed and provides all-day comfort and support with a moulded heel cup and arch shape. The silhouette also ushers in Vans’ EcoWaffle™ outsole made from an all-new rubber compound that utilises natural rubber instead of petroleum-derived synthetic rubber and is obtained from sources that follow proven ethical and sustainable practices that minimise harm and have positive benefits within the natural and social ecosystems in which they operate. This new rubber compound was developed and engineered to maintain the grip and durability for which Vans is known. The Circle Vee is available in natural/gum and dawn blue/gum colour ways.

Vans is committed to taking steps toward a more sustainable future and putting in the effort with the little things. All the small, thoughtful choices made daily—like riding a bike, picking up trash, refurbishing old boards, or hang drying clothes—add up to a big move in the right direction for the ocean and surfers everywhere. With the Circle Vee, Vans is proud to be doing our part.

To support and protect the world’s oceans, Vans will be donating $1 for every Circle Vee product sold—with a minimum of $25,000 donated—to the Tides Foundation to support ocean conservancy.

The Vans Circle Vee is available now at Vans retailers and at Vans.eu. For more information about Vans’ sustainability efforts, visit Vans.eu/Sustainability.

Vans Release Destruct Mid MTE-1

Vans Release Destruct Mid MTE-1

Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel brand, is proud to unveil the latest addition to our MTE offering, the Destruct Mid MTE-1. A purpose-built, weather-enabled style, the Destruct Mid MTE-1 makes it easier to venture out and enjoy the journey—no matter what the conditions.

Classics Vans styling meets durable protection with Vans latest iteration of MTE. Just like your van is modified to handle all types of terrain and weather, the same approach applies to the Destruct Mid MTE-1. Since the beginning, surfers have continuously sought ways to better address the demands of their environment through their gear. Vans surfers Tanner Gudauskas, Holly Wawn and Adrien Toyon can certainly attest to this, having put the Destruct Mid MTE-1 through the paces to get to great surf in not-so-great weather.

The silhouette stands up to the elements with an MTE-1 water-resistant system, keeping water out while letting internal moisture evaporate naturally. Thermoregulation is provided from PrimaLoft® Cold Weather Package insulation with extremely fine microfibers that trap and block heat loss when temps start to drop. Finally, an MTE-1 lugged and siped tire-like tread pattern provides next-level traction for a variety of terrain.

The Destruct Mid MTE-1 is offered in hero colorway dress blues/black and black/black options. With its timeless design and performance capabilities to match, this style is an ideal staple for year-round surfers and adventurers.

Supporting the silhouette is the women’s Taylor Hooded jacket in argan oil featuring a Sherpa-lined crossover-style hood, DWR coating, 3 oz filling, and an exterior drawcord waist and storm flap with hidden snaps and front zip. For men, the Drill Chore Coat Long MTE-1 is offered in black featuring sustainable DuPont Sorona fill, fully functional zip-off hood and moisture wicking lining.

The Destruct Mid MTE-1 collection is available now at Vans retailers and Vans.eu/Surf.

To learn more, visit Vans.eu/MTE.

Skateistan / Vans

Skateistan / Vans

Olympic Skateboarding Silver Medalist Pedro Barros Reflects on Skateboarding’s Life-changing Moments in Final Chapter of Vans and Skateistan Campaign.

In the final chapter of Vans’ “Where It Starts” summer campaign with Skateistan, the award-winning non-profit organization driven by skateboarding, Brazilian skateboarding icon and now, world’s first Olympic silver medalist in Park Skateboarding, Pedro Barros shares his passionate ode to skateboarding and its lasting impression on his life and career.

“Skateboarding, especially in a kid’s life, it is a life changer,” Barros said. “But skateboarding, the culture, the people around it, the skateboarders—that changed me 100%.”

An extraordinary case of an athlete who was truly born for the sport, clips of a young Barros are featured in the video, illustrating his lifelong commitment and dedication to the culture and community of skateboarding.

Pedro Barros with his friends and skate community in Brazil

Pedro Barros made his glorious run in Tokyo this past month at the 2021 Olympic Games and ended up taking home Brazil’s first-ever Silver medal in park skateboarding. A dream come true, Barros continues to be a beacon for skateboarders worldwide, inspiring new audiences to honor the culture just as much as the sport itself.

Vans and Skateistan launched the “Where It Starts” campaign this past June on Go Skateboarding Day, to share with fans the true elements of what makes skateboarding so special—the streets, skateparks, backyard pools and communities that built skateboarding from the ground up. The campaign will raise $200K in support of Skateistan, to continue bringing skateboarding education and programming to youth communities in Afghanistan, Cambodia, South Africa and beyond. $10 USD from every pair of Vans Custom Skate Classics purchased from Vans on Vans.com/customs from June 21 to August 30 will be donated to Tides Foundation to support Skateistan’s efforts.

Skateistan dedicates resources to groups often excluded from sports and educational opportunities, especially girls, children living with disabilities and those from low-income backgrounds. With support from their global network, The Goodpush Alliance, the non-profit supports growth and development of the skateboard community all over the world, celebrating the unique culture of skateboarders and their creative self-expression.

Visit Vans.com/skateistan to watch all the video spots of the “Where It Starts” campaign. Share your custom designs and where skateboarding started for you by tagging @vansskate on social media today!

Vans x Octopus Collection

Vans x Octopus Collection

Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel brand, is excited to announce our first footwear and apparel collaboration with Octopus, a surf brand known for its core surf sensibility mixed with elevated, minimalist aesthetics.

A surfer-owned-and-run company with no big investors, no one to answer to, and no rules to follow, Octopus is the best in the game when it comes to surfboard traction, bags, grips, and leashes. With shared team riders Mikey February, Dylan Graves, and Harry Bryant, it was high time for a collaboration between two rule-breaking brands committed to seamlessly blending style and performance – and never compromising one for the other.

“I’m hyped two brands that I ride for decided to party together on a collection,” Dylan said. “It feels like wedding merch that I’m so thankful for once the hangover wears off.”

Leading the first ever Vans x Octopus collaboration is the UltraRange EXO in Octopus’ signature black and crème colorway. The corduroy-inspired textured textile upper, marshmallow Sidestripe, marshmallow and black sole, and subtle Octopus branding on the heel tab align with Octopus’ restrained and clean aesthetic. This lightweight and breathable go-anywhere, do-anything shoe features all-terrain grip, a co-molded UltraCush Lite midsole for comfort, and an EXO skeleton for added support and durability. An UltraCush tongue provides ports for superior airflow, while the full rubber reverse waffle lug outsole offers traction and flexibility.

The Sk8-Hi 138 Decon SF and Classic Slip-On SF also get the Octopus treatment in luxe materials and Octopus’ go-to colorway. The Sk8-Hi features tonal marshmallow quarters, combining suede and corduroy for subtle textural variation. A black leather Sidestripe, black tongue and laces, and an emboss printed Octopus logo on the heel add the finishing touch.

Connoisseurs of simplicity will appreciate the Vans x Octopus Classic Slip-On. The marshmallow-on-marshmallow colorway features a corduroy vamp and heel with suede quarters, and Octopus’ signature round graphic emboss printed in black on the heel.

It wouldn’t be an Octopus collaboration without some high-performing gear for the water, and the Surf Boot Hi ST 3mm embodies the combination of style and function that Vans and Octopus fans have come to rely on.

The brand new split toe Surf Boot Hi dual rubber-dipped construction maintains a second-skin fit while adding structure and warmth with optimal flexibility. A split toe offers increased control and dexterity. Vans’ micro-waffle outsole increases boardfeel and grip without adding thickness, and a gusseted top helps maintain a nice bootie-to-leg seal.

True to form for Octopus, the bootie boasts a sleek minimal aesthetic with subtle detailing. The black boot features just a touch of crème – in the Octopus logo around the collar and on the heel of the outsole – while a black waffle-texture Sidestripe and toe cap add textural variety.

Supporting the footwear is an apparel pack, featuring a Vans x Octopus short sleeve tee, pullover hoodie, and surf trunks. The 100% ringspun cotton tee comes in black with an understated round Vans x Octopus typographic logo on the chest and a large collaboration-specific graphic on the back – Octopus’ signature tentacle mandala logo ringed by Vans’ iconic Checkerboard.

The same limited-edition graphic can be found screenprinted on the left chest of the fleece pullover, which also features Vans Checkerboard and Octopus printed down the sleeve. A hood and kangaroo pocket keep it cozy.

The Vans x Octopus Surf Trunk 3 is a 4-way stretch performance trunk with a low-profile buckle, wetsuit top connector, and an elastic waistband. The timeless black short features typographic branding on the left thigh and a zipper pocket on the right thigh for storing essentials.

Founded in 2014 by a group of friends and professional surfers, Octopus was created as a core surf brand like the ones we grew up with but with a different perspective that speaks to a more refined aesthetic and an ethos of only creating highly-tested, durable and necessary technical surfing gear. Vans latest collaboration with Octopus embodies these principles, delivering a timeless offering of truly functional pieces that can live on as staples in and out of the water.

The Vans x Octopus collection is available August 13, 2021, at select Vans Surf retail locations and at Vans.eu/Surf.

Vans Eco Theory Collection

Vans Eco Theory Collection

Organic cotton, natural rubber, and water-based inks make some of Vans’ most classic styles the most sustainable yet

Since 1966, Vans has broken rules and set standards with its “Off the Wall” approach to style and sport. Today, Vans is proud to announce the next evolution in our story, the Eco Theory collection, marking one of the first steps in a journey to more sustainable footwear.

Rebuilding some of our most-loved shoes from the ground up, Vans Eco Theory collection has the classic look fans of the brand have come to expect, made with responsibly sourced materials from sources that follow proven ethical and sustainable practices that minimise harm and have positive benefits within the natural and social ecosystems in which they operate. The collection utilises organic cotton, a new ECO Vans natural rubber, jute laces, cork-lined footbeds and water-based inks and glues to reimagine three of our most iconic Surf Classics silhouettes: the Authentic, Slip-On, and Style 36 Decon SF.

“Sustainability has to be at the forefront of Vans for the future,” says Vans Professional Surfer Dane Gudauskas. “It’s a fantastic moment to own the space and contribute to a more sustainable way of producing.”

With this in mind, Vans set out to make more thoughtful iterations of some of its most classic designs, starting with its first ever shoe, the Authentic. The Eco Theory Authentic SF, available in black Checkerboard/marshmallow Checkerboard and natural/double light gum, is a more sustainable version of an all-time favourite. The 100% cotton upper is made with cotton fibres that are organically grown according to recognised farm level certification standards that aim to support healthy soils, habitats and workers.

The Authentic SF’s shoelaces are made from natural jute fibre, and the UltraCush footbed features a natural cork topsheet. The outsole is made from an all-new ECO rubber compound from responsibly sourced natural rubber instead of petroleum-derived rubber. The ECO rubber is obtained from sources that follow proven ethical and sustainable practices that minimise harm and have positive benefits within the natural and social ecosystems in which they operate. This new natural rubber compound was developed and engineered to maintain the grip and durability for which Vans is known. The whole package is held together with water-based glues and coloured with water-based inks.

Accompanying the Eco Theory Authentic SF are the Eco Theory Slip-On SF in Checkerboard/marshmallow and the Eco Theory Style 36 Decon SF in natural/double Light Gum, touting the same sustainable construction, UltraCush drop-in sockliners and durable outsoles with waffle pattern.

Like the Authentic SF, The Eco Theory Slip-On SF combines a deconstructed low profile with the added comfort of a collapsible heel. The Style 36 Decon SF is a modern take on the original Vans Sidestripe shoe, now with a deconstructed upper and added toe cap.

The reimagined Classics that make up the Eco Theory Collection don’t just make a style statement, but a statement of what matters to the surfers, skaters, and change-makers who wear them.

The Vans Surf Eco Theory collection launches June 2, 2021 at authorised retailers and Vans.eu/surf. To learn more about Vans’ sustainability initiatives, visit vans.eu/sustainability.