Under The Palms

WHAT HAPPENED?! He was doing so well with VANS. It's just fucking ridiculous anymore.

He's just designing for his style. I've liked everything his art had been on and the shoes he designed so far. I like those aldo chukkas also haha

These look like ladies shoes to me..or at least unisex...

id10tech wrote:WHAT HAPPENED?! He was doing so well with VANS. It's just fucking ridiculous anymore.

Yeah this shit isn't Vans. The Trek stuff have Clarks soles, and no traditional silhouette for the upper, and really just don't belong in any Vans line.

In my opinion, this needs to end. The only thing that sets apart any brand from another are their unique silhouettes. Nike's dunk, Vans' sk8 hi, I mean, those are flagships. I want to see some tradition or familiar traits of the brand in a shoe when I pick it up; I want to think "whoah look at this Vans shoe" when I hold it, not "ohhh, this is a Vans shoe?"

^for the most part i agree... i think taka's best work comes from deconstructing and re-imagining the classic silhoettes, ie. his work with pendleton; they are complete re-workings but still 100% vans. a lot of his older work was based on this method ie. the priz laced, no-quarters... even the sk8-hi th lx (uggh, what a name) are og silos.

on the other hand, he has always been known for his unconventional silos, with the akat being a huge favorite of many. vans need someone like taka running wild with the akats, derbys, treks, engineers, espadrilles, etc. to keep their stable interesting. the ones that suck, will be loved in years to come by the few that did get them ( l cherish my no quarters even though most would burn them), and the ones that succeed will move on to wider release.

I don't see what the big fuss is about,they still look like tweaked version of the akaT to me..

TopVillain wrote:I don't see what the big fuss is about,they still look like tweaked version of the akaT to me..

agreed.

vulc'n wrote:...and the ones that succeed will move on to wider release.

This is most likely why he does it. Let's say that Vans wanted to test out new designs without having to make a large commitment. Vault is where they'd do it at, or perhaps Syndicate. And who would be charged with the task of doing this? The designer who is the most creative, and original...which would be TH. I'm surprised that the Akat isn't a California, or a GR yet. The Velocita went on to be a Vault GR model, with no Taka branding on it. So did the Priz Lace. Any other ones that you can think of, feel free to add, but yeah it's definitely experimental. It's "high fashion" (Daniel Tosh) hehe, and DEFINITELY not our style over here at OTWS!

JesseC wrote:

id10tech wrote:WHAT HAPPENED?! He was doing so well with VANS. It's just fucking ridiculous anymore.

Yeah this shit isn't Vans. The Trek stuff have Clarks soles, and no traditional silhouette for the upper, and really just don't belong in any Vans line.

In my opinion, this needs to end. The only thing that sets apart any brand from another are their unique silhouettes. Nike's dunk, Vans' sk8 hi, I mean, those are flagships. I want to see some tradition or familiar traits of the brand in a shoe when I pick it up; I want to think "whoah look at this Vans shoe" when I hold it, not "ohhh, this is a Vans shoe?"

I'm glad that the traditional vans shoes sell, so they can feed people like Taka and others that create new and different shoes that are outside the traditional line. I understand what your saying, which I why I have multiple of every shoe silhouette that I love, but I just don't want to see the same shit over and over.

I think what Taka has done specifically has fueled innovation at Vans, which I think could only be a positive thing.

I will also say this: you put on almost any pair of Vans that Taka has design and people want to know what's on your feet? I also like that sometimes they aren't well accepted...and then they end up on the NR and then on my rack at home!

Taka Hayashi Vans are some of my most favorite. Way back to the first designs... Almost an instant cop on anything he does.

Some may not know that Vans got into conventional designed "tennis" shoes in the early and late 70's. I still have a pair. It is time for Vans to branch out and explore all new ideas, as they have stated they will do. That doesn't mean the traditional designs will be left behind...

Nah, not all his shoes are hits but they are unique and different and STYLISH, let's be honest a lot of cats can't pull off every look. Most of his shoes go with a look that I think a lot of " skate " kids aren't down with, and that's cool that's why they aren't syndicate. Vans needs taka... No one else really does anything like what he is doing. I see his shoes and often think " how the hell are u gonna wear that?" then like months later I finally get it and get pissed I didn't cop em. Not to completely hate on other shoe designers but they aren't for the most part on his level. Like Jeremy Scott.. Cool concepts, ugly ass shoes that are completely unwearable. Taka designs are current, fresh, but have great nods to old school American shoes and styles. Taka kills it.

Yeah Tampa... Taka isn't pulling a fast one on people like Jeremy Scott is...fuckin' Zoolander motherf#!ker.

anyone knows the sizing for taka hayashi derby? true to size or size down 1/2?

Ehh I say TTS. ANyone else?

The Suede derby's ran a half size big, can't speak for the Billy Kirks or the Leathers.