[FOCUS IT.] Vans' new line OTW and S.R. Studio. Celebrating the collaboration between Vans' new line OTW and S.R. Studio LA, CA. Report on the hot night of live music and skateboarding in Downtown Los Angeles!

One of the major topics in the sneaker world for the 2024 SS season, the launch event celebrating the collaboration between "OTW by Vans" (* hereafter, OTW), a new top-of-the-line line by Vans, and "S.R. Studio LA.CA. A launch event was held in downtown Los Angeles, USA.

We visited this memorable occasion to talk to Ian Guinosa, creative director of "OTW," about the new line that just debuted, and report on a hot night in Los Angeles that was filled with live music and a skateboarding exhibition.

Edit_Yosuke Ishii

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OTW's unconventional creative with the spirit of OFF THE WALL and the theme of Feature Craft.

Just before the launch event of "OTW" and "S.R. Studio LA.CA.", we caught up with Ian, the creative director of "OTW", at the hotel where he was staying. Under a clear blue sky, we asked him about the "OTW" line over a cup of coffee on the rooftop of the hotel overlooking the downtown area.

Ian Guinosa / Creative Director, OTW by VANS
Creative Director of OTW by Vans, which debuted this spring. He is a key figure in the sneaker world and a genuine skateboarder, having worked for a number of manufacturers in the past.

➖First of all, please tell us again what is the "OTW" line?

OTW is a new platform for Vans. OTW aims to create a new image of the brand through experimental creativity that is a step beyond the existing Vans brand.

Of course, we also value skateboarding, which is the spirit and roots of "Vans," and our designs reflect the background of that culture, as well as the scenery that reminds us of skateboarding, such as cities, concrete, and buildings.

➖ I did get the impression from looking at the collection that it was a new "Vans" that had never been seen before. Is there anything you paid attention to when designing the collection?

The key point and mission was how to utilize the proto design while maintaining the "OFF THE WALL" spirit that Vans has cultivated over the years.

Therefore, this time, with "Future Craft = Future Manufacturing" as the keyword, we took the existing model "Half Cab" and the archived model "Speed" as the base model and added Vibram ®︎ soles for a daring approach. The new model is based on the existing "Half Cab" model and the archived "Speed" model.

➖I had no idea that Vibram ®︎ soles would be installed on Vans. Interesting idea.

This is the unique perspective of a skateboarder.

Skateboarders have a slightly different way of looking at things. For example, when you see a bench on the street, to a non-skateboarder, it is just a design for sitting on. But skateboarders are like, "You can grind! What tricks can I do? "How do I get in?" and "How do I get in? This point of view is reflected in this collection.

The fusion of the ➖Vibram ®︎ sole was also brilliant and stylish.

The existing model and the Vibram ®︎ sole, each of which is the original design, but we have taken great care to balance them so that they don't look out of place. We don't want them to look like potato heads (laughs).

Surely they can be used outdoors and are comfortable to wear. They're cool as styling too, right?

➖It seems to be addicted to a wide range of styling. What do you want to do in the future with "OTW" and what are your plans for the future?

We have some interesting collaborations coming up in 2024 and 2025, including the S.R. Studio, which will be unveiled tonight. I think this will be a great opportunity to attract new "Vans" fans, and I am sure that those who have loved the "Vans" brand in the past will understand the direction it is taking. I myself am looking forward to having everyone around the world see it.

Also, we have established a good partnership with Vibram ®︎ through this effort, and I hope that we can look forward to future collaborations.

➖I'm also looking forward to tonight's "S.R. Studio" event. I hear the venue is going to be amazing for everything!

PlayLab., who helped us with the OTW kick-off event at Paris Fashion Week in June 2023, was commissioned again to design this event, with ideas from Sterling Ruby. You will be amazed at the huge monument. Looking forward to it.

OTW by Vans HALF CAB REISSUE 33 VIBRAM ¥19,800
OTW's commemorative first model is a boot-like pair based on the Half Cab, tailored with a Vibram ®︎ sole and vulcanized bottom. In addition to the black model shown in the photo, the model is available in three colors: sunburst and ivory.

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A huge skate section suddenly appeared in the city. The launch event was a great success!

Now, the time is just around 7:30pm. Los Angeles held the launch event of "CLASH THE WALL," a collaboration model between "OTW" and "S.R. Studio.LA.CA." in a large parking lot on the edge of the Art District, located on the outskirts of downtown.

The "Vans family" of influencers, customers, media representatives, and skateboarders from all over the world gathered to celebrate the event. The front of the venue was already overflowing with people, and there was even a long line of people waiting to get in. The atmosphere was already hot.

It took more than ten minutes to wait in line. After passing through the entrance gate, a gigantic monument, which must have been at least three stories high, appeared in front of us. It was huge and had a strong presence!

Here is a picture taken by a drone at another time.

To my surprise, this was a skate park. As you can see, it is laid out in a huge parking lot, and the pyramid-shaped section in the center is as high as 12 feet. A live stage is set up in the hollowed-out wall.

The work is a collaboration between "PlayLab." and Sterling Ruby, as in the installation held in Paris last year. The installation was created by using scrap materials from PlayLab.'s skateboard installations in the past.

The temporary monument, inspired by the steep hills of San Francisco, functions as a skate section, but also as art.

From Vans riders to familiar legends, the skateboarders gathered under "OFF THE WALL" will take on this huge section. OFF THE WALL", skateboarders will challenge this huge section.

For a non-skateboarder, just dropping in from a 12-foot drop is terrifying...but the wall rides against 90-degree walls and the oversized airs from the giant pyramid are powerful! With a DJ playing in the background and a beer in my hand, I watched the show for hours on end.

After the exciting demonstration, visitors looked around the venue and saw the "CLASH THE WALL" installation by "OTW" and "S.R. Studio LA.CA.", the highlight of the event. Visitors enjoyed "CLASH THE WALL" to their heart's content, taking pictures and trying on the shoes before they went on sale.

What was particularly impressive was that the person who took the photo was wearing the fluorescent orange and fluorescent green shoes asymmetrically on his left and right. Even though these shoes have a great impact, he had the sense to wear them in a negative way.

It was a moment when I felt the spirit of "OFF THE WALL," a place where people can enjoy themselves freely, and at the same time, I was touched by the depth of VANS' open-mindedness, which even allows such people to come and go. Needless to say, the crowd was buzzing with excitement.

Now, back to the skate section again. After the demonstration, two artists performed live on stage.

First up was PARIS TEXAS, a rap duo that made a splash at last year's Cautura Festivus, and as soon as they began their live performance, the audience rushed to the skate section and immediately formed a mosh pit. The audience's voltage soared as the aggressive stage performance, which was based on hip-hop with a rock approach in some places, brought the audience to the skate section. The moment when the live performance and the skate demo intersected was definitely the most exciting moment of the day.

Next up was SALEM, a cult favorite and representative of the electro music subgenre Witch House, with the entire venue covered in smoke, which combined with the dark soundscape to create a fantastic stage performance. Although it was a down-tempo and chill live performance, the gloomy melodies and inaudible noisy vocals drew me in more and more.

Before you know it, it's past 23:00. It is almost time for the event to come to an end. The "Vans" family members are enjoying their last hours together over drinks. In the end, we would like to introduce six groups that we particularly liked.

Ian Ginoza & Sterling Ruby

First, two shots of Ian, the director of OTW, who is the star of the show, and Sterling Ruby, a contemporary artist who runs S.R. Studio.LA.CA.

Elijah Berle

Next up is Elijah Bahr, who has released a signature model from Vans. Elijah Bahr is also known as a "Fuck Awesome" rider.

Beatrice Domond

This is Beatrice Domond, a member of Vans and the first female Supreme rider. Her Jamaican-colored knit is cool!

Efron Danzig

Efron Danzig modeled for the "OTW" look. He is a versatile person who also has a face as an artist and is one of the up-coming skateboarders.

Landon Barker

Pop-punk star of Generation Z, Landon Barker, is also present. His father is Travis Barker, the drummer of blink-182. He probably inherited his father's style of dressing in "Vans".

Kunichi Nomura & Jules Gayton

Finally, here are two shots of Mr. Kunichi Nomura and his friend Jules Gayton. Many people must think of "Vans" when they hear the name "Mr. Nomura. Without a doubt, he is one of the driving forces behind the popularity of "Vans" in Japan.

So, as soon as the date changed, the party that was so hot and fun for one night only came to an end. However, the party went on into the after-party, and the night was not over yet. ......

The event, which encompassed design, art, and music with a focus on skateboarding, the core of the Vans brand, was the very embodiment of the "OTW" concept. With more surprising designs and collaborations in the works, keep checking back for more OTW's relentless challenge and innovative creativity that will surprise you in a good way.

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OTW's unconventional creative with the spirit of OFF THE WALL and the theme of Feature Craft.

OTW BY VANS × S.R.STUDIO. LA. CA CLASH THE WALL ¥19,800
This pair is a mashup of the iconic "Vans" models "OLD SKOOL 36," "AUTHENTIC," "MID-SKOOL 77," and "SK8-HI. The eye-popping neon green and orange color palette is accented by the "S.R.STUDIO.