One Block Down x Vans “Star Bullet”
In its latest collaboration, One Block Down renews its partnership withVans, a brand synonymous with subcultural iconography, taking a deeperdive into skateboarding culture. This project, named "Star Bullet," paystribute to the skateboarding scene of the early 2000s, featuring adistinctive reinterpretation of the iconic “Rowley XLT”. This shoe,emblematic of its era, remains as pertinent today as at its launch,celebrated for its bold design.
The story of this silhouette began in 2001, when Vans collaborated withGeoff Rowley, the legendary skater from Liverpool, UK, to craft thisinnovative sneaker. It boasts a blend of durability, support, and style suitedto Rowley's robust skating style. The design stands out with severalpioneering features, such as a reinforced toe cap that adds protection anddurability, ensuring resilience against skateboarding's demands.Additionally, enhanced padding around the collar provides increased anklesupport, and the shoe's cup sole construction delivers outstanding boardfeel, enabling skaters to perform with precision and control.
This collaboration revisits the iconic early 2000s model, infusing it withcontemporary flair while maintaining authenticity to the original. The shoeis adorned with details inspired by the era's iconography and classicaesthetic elements, such as metallic studs on the upper and 3M accentsand details. Further more, the shoe showcases the new One Block Down"Link" logo printed on the tongue.
The collaboration will be available in three colorways: “Chalk”, “Split” and“Ink”.
The collaboration will be available in three colorways: “Chalk”, “Split” and“Ink”.
To complement the capsule collection and deepen the narrative around thisiconic era and product, One Block Down has also crafted a clothing linethat matches the shoe and its style. This capsule collection includes:T-shirts (Available in White and Black CWs) featuring a bootleg print thatmerges the logos and names of One Block Down and Vans; Denim Jeans (Available in White and Black CWs) characterized by abaggy fit and hand-applied studs on the sides; White socks with the collaborators' logos embroidered on the outer side;Acrylic beanies (Available in two distinctive CWs) with a leopard printpattern, incorporating the One Block Down logo into the printed graphic;Leather belts in one size, one in black featuring a double layer of hand-applied metallic studs and a white belt with a single layer of hand-appliedmetallic studs.
To launch the collaboration, One Block Down and Vans hosted a specialevent on April 10th at the Tunnel Club in Milan. This event showcased anunique skate contest within the venue during the DJ set, along with a liveperformance by the UK-based collective “Lost Boys,” comprising some ofthe most exciting artists from the UK.
The collaboration will be available exclusively online at oneblockdown.itand in One Block Down spaces in Milan (P.za Armando Diaz, 2) and Rome (ViaMargutta 119); on April 18th at 10 am CET.
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