Vans takes over Paris

During the Men's Fashion Week which has just ended, Vans took over the French capital with a series of unmissable skateboarding events that animated Paris for four days. For the Fête de la Musique, two skateparks and a music stage were set up at the highest point of the park, at the foot of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre. On June 21, the church square welcomed world-renowned artists including Justice as the headliner, Kaytranada, Venus X, Busy P, and Tatyana Jane. The evening, which was the highlight of the Fête de la Musique edition, attracted exceptional guests such as Emily Ratajkowski, Omar Apollo, and Jonathan Anderson. It was preceded by an afternoon where Parisian skaters took over structures inspired by the marble of the Basilique. In this context, a unique version of the Half Cab sneaker in collaboration with Dutch artist Pierre Parra, founder of the eponymous brand known for its abstract and playful designs, was unveiled.

Earlier in the week, on June 18, Vans organized a skate jam in honor of skateboarding pioneer Anthony Van Engelen. Additionally, the brand supported the "Atiba Jefferson: Skate Photography" exhibition, the first retrospective dedicated to the nearly 30-year career of the American photographer captivated by the world of skateboarding, organized by the Architecture c/o Virgil Abloh™️ studio. Highlighting Black voices in skateboarding through over 200 photographs taken from the mid-90s to today, featuring legends like Tony Hawk, Kareem Campbell, John Cardiel, Eric Koston, Andrew Reynolds, and Tyshawn Jones, as well as archival videos, the exhibition is open to the public until June 28 at 2 Bis Rue Saint-Sauveur, in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. Vans' Parisian adventure is part of a series of international initiatives designed by OTW, Vans' new label launched during the June 2023 Men's Fashion Week, aimed at promoting skateboarding culture and values worldwide.