2010 - BEST OF THE BEST SNEAKERS

Filson x Vans Vault 46 LX
My 2010 top spot goes to the Vans collaboration with C.C. Filson Co for their FW10 Vault line, more specifically the 46 silhouette. I’m not usually one for collaborations – if a piece can’t hold its own from the design aspect and another brand is required to strengthen it, the idea of a collab dilutes the product and it just becomes a marketing tool. But once in a while, the concept of a collaboration just clicks, and that’s what happened between Vans and Filson. I honestly think Vans absolutely killed it this past year with their entire brand direction: working with the right artists, designers, and companies; trimming down accounts, refining collections, and introducing new lines; all the way to opening up newly revamped spaces that showcase their genuine aesthetic.

As a heritage all-American company, it only made sense for Vans to work with Filson, known for their history of producing top-notch, high-quality outdoor products. And with everyone looking like they just got done chopping wood or fishing in the Atlantic, this collaboration is a step apart by incorporating that particular aesthetic all the while retaining a tasteful, street sensibility.

Both styles in the collection looked amazing, but I had to go with the 46 model ‘cause I just can’t mess with SK8-HIs. It’s something with the East Coast, or maybe just up here in New England; you don’t see many people rocking Sk8-HIs, as everyone’s mainly into Eras or Authentics. This one murdered it!