686 is proud to announce the addition of iconic snowboarder Gigi Rüf to the team.
Gigi brings his own unique approach to snowboarding and will complement the entire global 686 team including snowboarders Forest Bailey, Sammy Luebke, Phil Jacques, Victor Daviet, Matt Belzile and Mary Rand. . . and more.
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Sadly, nothing in this Volcom + Hot Wheels collab comes in adult sizes. Guess we’ll all be forced into vicarious buying sprees. Come on now, V-Co.
[Link: Volcom]
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Zombie brand extraordinaire, Airwalk, is hoping to ride the 90s wave of nostalgia right back to the top of the footwear game with the launch their latest “global ad campaign,” according to current owner Authentic Brands Group (Jamie Salter is the CEO, remember him?) The new campaign is titled Teen Spirit. Can you smell it? Here’s how they pitch it.
Returning to the brand’s roots, the 2018 campaign embraces the spirit of the Southern California teen that established Airwalk’s place in 90s culture. It gives consumers a candid look into the individuality, self-expression, and free-spirit that has shaped Airwalk’s identity for more than 30 years. . . .The campaign features The One, the Bloc, the Random, the Jim Lo, the Vic, and the Prototype. This assortment highlights Airwalk’s best sellers and a peek into what’s to come for the brand.
This just makes us miss footwear marketing/design genius Sinisa Egelja all the more. Hard to believe it has been nine years since his death on October 26, 2009. For the official word from Authentic Brand Group (which also owns Vision Street Wear), please follow the jump.
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Once again, a list of links to some of the stories we wish we had time to read and re-type. Follow the jump for all the details.
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We’ve never really been able to figure out why VF owned Reef. They never seem to mention it during their financial calls, nor report on the brand’s progress or any plans they have for the company. It always seemed like Reef was Vans’ forgotten step-sister at VF. Guess VF felt the same way as they are reportedly selling Reef to The Rockport group, according to a story on Bizjournals.com.
Greensboro-based VF Corp. is further slimming its portfolio by entering into an agreement to sell beachwear brand Reef to The Rockport Group. . . The company disclosed the deal today, the terms of which were not disclosed. . . The acquisition is expected to close October 2018. . . The Rockport Group is based in Newton, Massachusetts, and is a maker of casual and dress shoes. The group was acquired by private equity firm Charlesbank Capital Partners LLC Aug. 3.
Okay. Reef and all their assets will now be part of a company that makes shoes the elderly wear while stumbling around in the forrest. Not sure it’s a good fit for reef, but it will likely be great for Rockport. The Newton, Massachusetts based company plans to keep Reef in Carlsbad, California, but really, how long will that last?
[Link: Bizjournals.com]
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The Vans Park Series will wrap things up for the 2018 season in Shanghai, China October 27 and crown two new VPS park terrain champions.
Saluting an incredible international tour across five continents to showcase the world’s best park terrain skateboarders, the 2018 Vans Park Series Pro Finals culminates in yet another historic year in skateboarding’s progression onto the world stage. The confirmed field of competitors has been revealed today on vansparkseries.com including defending champions Oskar Rozenberg Hallberg and Nora Vasconcellos, leading Tour Challengers Tristan Rennie and Sakura Yosozumi, and select VPS Continental Champions from Brazil, Japan, South Africa, Europe and Australia.
For the official word from Vans including all the continental champions and current standings, please follow the jump.
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One of these shoes is Tony Hawk’s latest designed Proto the other is an old skate shoe from the end of the 80s.
Tony Hawk’s signature shoe, the Lakai Proto, is available now in Lakai retailers around the world. The Proto is inspired by Tony’s creative impact on skateboarding. It is designed and developed to provide support and comfort for everyday skateboarding. This limited Powell colorway is a nod to Tony’s most iconic footage during the Bones Brigade era.
We’re just having a rough time figuring out which is which. Maybe Michael Jordan could help?
[Link: Lakai]
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You know it’s hitting critical mass when Osiris and Under Armour are fighting about who designed the original ugly puffer D3 (was it Brian Reid or Dave Mayhew), because, you know, Under Armor’s new A$AP Rocky sneaker is a direct design knock off. Meanwhile Vans is dipping their toes into the puffy pool with their new Varix WC. Guess those of us who like the sleek, classic stylings of the Vans Old Skool are going to just have to hang in for a minutes until they come back around. Fashion!
[Link: Vans & Footwear News]
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Vans has partnered with long-time global skate team legend and musician Ray Barbee on some new colorways of the Half Cab Pro and Old Skool Pro.
These Barbee-inspired Half Cab Pro and Old Skool Pros are dressed in deluxe emerald and burgundy suede uppers with white cotton laces and contrast stitching. Showcasing never before seen Vans graphics from the early 90’s, these functional Pro Classics highlight an elephant motif liner as an homage to Barbee’s friend and fellow Vans family member, Salman Agah, whose original pro board featured the graphic.
Vans really are the only skate shoes you’ll even need, but new colors are always good. For the official word from Vans, please follow the jump.
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See all those Vans Old Skools on nearly everyone on the street under 60? Well, get ready to see a lot more as VF Corp rolls out plans to nearly double Vans’ annual revenue by 2023 to $5 billion.
“Since VF’s acquisition in 2004, the Vans brand has grown at a 17 percent compounded annual rate and transformed into a $3 billion global lifestyle brand,” said Steve Rendle, VF Corporation Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “I am confident in the Vans team’s ability to deliver on a bold $5 billion revenue target which will be a key driver of VF’s plan to deliver superior total return to shareholders over the next five years.”
For exactly how Vans plans on doing this, please follow the jump. (Hint, it has something to do with that Internet thingy.)
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