Image via Complex Original
It's hard to beieve that Vans Vault has been around for 10 years already. But at the same time, it's amazing what they've managed to accomplish in just 10 years. Along with collaborations with such disparate designers and brands from Marc Jacobs to Filson to Kenzo, Vans Vault has also paid tribute to American icons from Schwinn to The Simpsons, and presented simple but luxurious re-workings of their most iconic silhouettes. And Taka Hayashi has continued to re-define what a Vans classic actually is. Take a trip down memory lane and check out The Best Vans Vault Releases of All Time.
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10. Pendleton x Vans Vault
Year: 2010
Taka Hayashi's remixes of the Slip-On and Sk8-Hi were made even more distinctive with the use of Pendleton's iconic wool fabrics, offset with premium brown leather and rough stitching. Hayashi has done a lot of work with Vans over the years, this collection stands as one of his best.
9. Filson x Vans Vault
Year: 2010
Filson has been turning out their leather and canvas outdoor products since 1897, and as such their products should be immediately recognizable. Vans Vault took those familair materials and colors and worked up co-branded versions of the Sk-8 High and Era along with a matching pack. Proper Americana.
8. Robert Williams x Vans Vault
Year: 2009
Vans doesn't discriminate when it comes to teaming up with creative people. Need proof? Robert Williams is an artist that's probably older than your parents (and some grandparents), but his apocalyptic cartoons are timeless. That and you may not recognize his name but you probably know about the magazine he founded, Juxtapoz. The art and culture magazine has featured a majority of the artists who have created sneaker collabs. In short, Robert Williams is a king and Vans Vault deserves props for recognizing.
7. Schwinn Classic x Vans Vault
Year: 2007
Long before Vans linked up with Haro for a full collection, they paid tribute to the spiritual father of all of BMX - the Schwinn Stingray - with this slip-on. Featuring a metalflake exterior and a checkerboard lining, the slip-on properly honored Schwinn's '60s muscle bike past without going too far outside Vans' traditional lane.
6. Mooneyes x Vans Vault
Year: 2008
Mooneyes is a legendary company in hot rod and racing history - founded in the '50s by Dean Moon, their disc wheelcovers have graced everything from early customs to speed record holders at the Bonneville Salt Flats. But even more iconic than the wheelcovers is their eyes logo, which Vans used to great effect on this Vault collection, which included Slip-Ons, Eras and Sk-8 Highs.
5. Disney x Vans Vault
Year: 2013
One of Vault's more recent drops, the Disney x Vans drop harkened back to designs that were offered at the park back in the '80s. The Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Winnie the Pooh patterns needed to be re-created from original models that (fortunately) dedicated collectors still had.
4. Major League Baseball x Vans Vault
Year: 2010
This super-limited release consisted of just 12 pairs of each shoe sold with the respective team's jersey, only available at one retailer each. Classic Vans styles were paired with classic teams - and the Marlins - making for some of the hardest-to-find Vans in recent history. Anyone manage to get them all?
3. Vans Vault Old Skool "Pony Hair"
Year: 2003
It all began with the "Pony Hair" collection, which included this Damier-style Old Skool. The Louis Vuitton feel embodied perfectly what Vault was supposed to be about - what a way to start things off.
2. Marc Jacobs x Vans Vault
Year: 2008
Who better to create new American classics than Marc Jacobs? Jacobs was born in 1963, meaning he was just three years old when Vans sold their first pair of sneakers. His six seasons' worth of collaborations with Vans included wild prints as well as shiny synthetic materials, bringing the brand to the attention of a whole new audience.
1. The Simpsons x Vans Vault
Year: 2007
The Simpsons collection stands as the signature accomplishment of Vans Vault's first 10 years. A full dozen artists, including the likes of KAWS, Futura and Mr. Cartoon, were allowed to re-interpret Simpsons characters as they saw fit on various Vans models. The collection sold out in 90 minutes.
