So, I think I said it pretty well on my Instagram post early this morning as I laid in my bed trying to go to sleep, still high off one of my most memorable and favorite sneaker releases I’ve ever experienced. I basically said “@properlbc put on one hell of a Vans release last night. This project will go down in my history books for Vans as one of the most creative and interactive shoe buying experiences I have ever had. It was as if I was walking into that Anaheim Factory showroom myself, and building my own one of one shoe, even though @jaycurry, the one who thought of this insane idea, had already created the color combinations for us. Even if I wasn’t able to get the exact color and style that I was hoping for, it was still super satisfying, knowing that the pair I picked out will not have another one like it. I felt like some of you older Vans collectors, who used to shop the Vans tent sales at the LA County Fair! We should’ve known…another game-changing Vans collab from Proper”, and that pretty much sums up how I felt afterwards. I also wanted to share Jordan’s excerpt about this project, as well as Proper’s official message, as both tell the story much better than I’ve been able to, lol!
Jordan Curry (Mgr at Proper LBC and creative genius behind this legendary pack) – “Growing up in CA Vans have always been a staple in my life as well as my family’s life. My mom spent her youth in Orange, CA where Vans were more of a lifestyle than a footwear preference. When @thescrutineer and @properlbc approached me with a concept for our latest collaboration with @vansvault I unconscionably repeated yes. yes. yes. The idea was to reciprocate the old Vans factory sales of the 70s and 80s. Custom 1of1 shoes never seen before. Odd one-off’s that potentially wouldn’t see the light of day. But this time it wasn’t a few different colors on a few different models, rather hundreds and hundreds of shoes, each different in their own way. “Our presentation consisted of a simple color palette of heavy weight canvas and suede, and some shoes. Hundreds of shoes in fact, page after page of Eras, Slip-Ons, and Sk8-Hi’s in a never ending number of color combinations. Mono-tones, duo-tones, tri-tones, quad-tones the list went on and on. Symmetrical, asymmetrical, mis-matched and everything in between.” The process was madness. Transporting thousands of pieces of fabric between the office and my living room-shifting through materials day in and day out trying to handcraft the perfect pair, knowing it wouldn’t exist. All of it was worth it – just knowing a concept this expansive would never exist again in the Vans world. Fast forward 9 months later, the process is over and the final product is near perfect. I couldn’t be more at a loss for words and couldn’t be more thankful; Handmade Customs from me to you. One of ones all hand designed by me, as individual as it gets. This was insanely hard to keep a secret but i’m hyped this idea has come to fruition. Thank you @thescrutineer for always guiding me and thank you for allowing me to bring this vision to life. Thank you @properlbc for allowing me to bring this vision to life. Thanks to the vans development team for dealing with all of the craziness”.
Proper – “Someone once said that most great ideas start off as bad ones, so it was no surprise when our initial pitch to Vans to work on the new ComfyCush platform was met with some cautious trepidation. The concept was simple, to bring the excitement and discovery of the Vans warehouse sales we enjoyed as Southern California youths to a younger generation that would never have the opportunity to experience it.
Our presentation consisted of a simple color palette of heavy weight canvas and suede, and some shoes. Hundreds of shoes in fact, page after page of Eras, Slip-Ons, and Sk8-Hi’s in a never ending number of color combinations. Mono-tones, duo-tones, tri-tones, quad-tones the list went on and on. Symmetrical, asymmetrical, mis-matched and everything in between.
Only when the raw material began to arrive did the real work begin. Unhindered by design briefs, Proper’s very own Jordan Curry set forth on a process of organic creativity in canvas and suede. Day after day, week after week he immersed himself in the process emerging only to share his latest masterpiece. Steadfast in his dedication to avoid repetition each pair was a unique creation, a true manifestation of the original concept, from mild to wild and everything in between, no two pairs the same. Perfectly imperfect.
Executing any collaboration can be a challenge, much less hundreds of them in a single shot. Has it been done before, not like this, will it be done again, probably not if the Vans production team has their say in it. Part old, part new, completely unique. We hope you enjoy finding your favorite pair as much as we did making them”.
Once again, congrats to the collab of the year, and perhaps much longer than that. This is truly a blessing, to be able to experience an event like no other, where it was all about the thrill of the hunt, hoping to find something in your size, style, and choice of color. I know it’s tough to try and purchase these online, as you’re just going in on a wing and a prayer, hoping you get something dope. Perhaps if and when Proper can get around to it, they’ll just list up all the individual pairs, by style and size of course, and that should help ease some of your worries about getting something you may not like. There’s something for everybody!
tons of pics after the jump, including pics of our 1 of 1’s that we chose!
