Vans Steps Into Music History With Premium Old Skool Collection

The weekend kicked off with music stylings from a California native who embodies the Vans ethos: skateboarder, photographer and musician Ray Barbee. That energy launched us into the summit's next step, a private exhibition tour with Vans archivist, historian and curator, Catherine Acosta, while Vans Director of Marketing (Lifestyle) Rachelle Shapiro and Director of Merchandising (Lifestyle) Mira Bourdon, gave us the lowdown on how the epic brand came to be and how their latest collection pays homage to the past while looking towards the future — giving us a sneak peek of the premium brand's designs.

Then — before a stellar DJ Set by Sky Jetta — we got to hear from an incomparable panel of art and music experts: Blink-182 drummer and pop-punk pioneer Travis Barker, hardcore punk priestess and Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins, Bela Salazar of all-girl punk band The Linda Lindas and modern artists and member of Bay Area music collective The Pack, Jahil Nzinga. Salazar, a guitarist and vocalist whose band has opened for the likes of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Smashing Pumpkins and Green Day, talked about being like a "bug" taking the world in through her "antennas" and "trying to observe the world and learn and be open to whatever comes my way." Nzinga, who rocked custom Vans during the chat, told us his approach to individuality in style: "Making the decision to stay authentic to who I am is the best style you can have." Nzinga, who works on canvas, also lifted Vans slogan for what he has his eye set on for the future of designing outside of his typical medium: "I'm going 'off the wall' this year."

Rollins, frontman of one of the '80s most seminal bands, tripled down on the importance of counterculture for society. “Artistically, I’m not trying to be like anyone,” Rollins said. “I’m doing it in my own screwed-up way. As far as progress, it’s me challenging myself over and over and it gets more interesting the older you get. That's been my own process to keep challenging myself and to keep blowing my own mind. And that alt culture — that DIY ethos — don't ask anyone, make a record, make a fan zine, make your our T-shirts, build your own brand, I come from that." He added that his aim is to "keep it moving, keep it different, keep it challenging." Rollins also touted the way that music, the punk scene, and "alt-culture" have always been necessary, but especially now. "It keeps bad people from gaining office, and it keeps people compassionate," he said. "If you think you needed it then, you need it now more than ever — alt ways of going about things."

Barker gave the audience his thoughts on "always pushing the limits," whether that was in terms of his "music, or producing, or running, boxing, whatever," he said. "I get really uncomfortable not growing. Progression is everything." He also joked about not being as good as a "skater" as he was a "drummer."

"I would wear Vans to ride BMX, skate, play drums in, I never really switched up too much," Barker said. Born in raised in Southern California, where Vans got its start Barker also said that "it really felt like it was the only shoe store where I grew up."

The Summit's second day was all about creativity, as PAPER and fellow shoe enthusiasts got the chance to customize Vans, led by creative juggernaut, designer and artist Nicole Mclaughlin, who had previously released a gardening tote-inspired up-cycled version of Vans for their Vault by Vans collection. Then we got to experience live art and one-of-a-kind tagging of Vans by groundbreaking contemporary artist and designer CHITO, known for his airbrush technique that has seen him collab with major fashion houses.

As the Summit came to a close, the real celebration began. The night launched with a DJ set from Rollins where he played a range of punk tracks and classic hits. Then, Chicago indie upstarts Horsegirl stunned the crowd with their echoing, indie rock tracks. The night ended with a sweltering set from Hip-Hop duo Paris Texas, who rilled the crowd up into moshpits with their blend of gritty rock backing tracks, melodic bridges, and old-school delivery. The genre-less, boundary-pushing performance was a perfect way to end the Summit and a reminder of where culture, music (and even Vans) are going in the future.

Photography: Jules Monstera, Atiba Jefferson

This article is a partnership between PAPER and Vans.