THE VANS
CALIFORNIA COLLECTION

The California Collection's subtle design elements and unique material choices connect a rich heritage of modernism with the spirit of Americana craftsmanship and artistry. Traces of vintage surf and skate inform a collection character that is perceptive to the aesthetics of subculture throughout. From the bohemian movement forged by the early beat poets of the 50s and the folksingers of the 60s and 70s to the street and tattoo artists driving popular art today, progressive styles from the hearts of Los Angeles and San Francisco find a new idiosyncratic expressiveness that is personal, inspired, and unpretentious. Relying on the spoils of an extensive design archive, attention to detail and sophisticated materializations complement the creative panache that is the particular mark of this assortment. Each style is a rendition of a singular voice that reverberates with the desire for longevity and the lure of the unexplored.

Photo Essay

Jon Warren, photography & product design CA:

Thrift store shopping has and always will be a big part of discovering hidden treasures. The idea that you can find something that brings you back to being a kid or finding an item that has stood the test of time always has interested me. When we received the opportunity to shoot our catalog at Angels Antiques in Carpinteria we jumped at the chance. Wayne C. Babcock has the largest vintage surfboard collection as well as a house full of vintage surf and skateboards. He has been at it a long time and the blend of surf heritage with the collector mentality makes for some really great finds. Sometimes you have to go back in order to go forward and we hope we captured the feel of discovery for this catalog.

Tait Hawes, creative direction CA:

Each photo shoot we do for the California Collection comes together seamlessly because the line is inspired by everything that we love to do or is a part of our history. The ideas are centered around a California nostalgia that includes skateboarding, surfing, art, music and travel. California Collection to me is the painter and sculptor David Korty living in Eagle Rock, skating abandoned pools in the Orange County Hills, surfing being passed down through the Nosbusch generations in Pt. Dume, fishing and camping at Lake Cachuma and wandering through the Salton Sea with Jon, some cameras and a box of shoes. It is every designer's hope that they will get to work on a project that speaks to them. The California Collection has become that outlet for creativity rooted in my interests and personal tastes.

I get to experiment with some of my favorite mediums including Super 8 film, watercolor, Polaroids and pen and ink to try and express the vision for this line. The style in general hearkens back to travel and nature photography of the 1960's, which inform the feel of the catalog as an integrated visual piece. Every creative step is rooted in classic California.