18 East's Debut Vans Collaboration Was Years in the Making
Based in New York and led by Antonio Ciongoli, 18 East is one of the most exciting labels in the menswear sphere, crafting thought-out gear that satisfies even the most particular garment enthusiasts. Taking that approach to sneaker collaborations, the label has just revealed that they’ve been working for almost two and a half years developing a collaboration. Using the legendary silhouette, Ciongoli made it his mission to rebuild the model to the exact specs to when he first started skating.
‘This one means a lot to me because Vans and the Half Cab played a key role in how I was introduced to skateboarding in general. When I was 11 years old, I was sitting outside my house, when this local skater named Packy McGurn burned into my driveway in cargo shorts and Half Cabs. He had come over to work on a school project with my sister – who was five years older than me – and he had just gotten the old circle Cab dragon logo tattooed on his calf about a half hour prior. I sat with them as they worked and Packy seemed much more interested in making me laugh than the project. As an 11 year old, I remember thinking ‘Yo, this guy is the coolest human being I’ve ever met.’ When they were done he offered to let me try his board. Up until that point I had never even thought about skating, but the very next day I went downtown to the local skate shop, The B-Side, where Packy worked, and he picked out my whole first setup for me.’
The 18 East x Vans Half Cab will come in three, tonal colourways, boasting plenty of design changes that bring these back to their period-correct specs. Each host a densely padded black tongue, additional ollie toecap, matte white outsole and classic non-removable insole – that’s been bolstered with Van’s modernised UltraCush. Half Cab branding comes through on the ankle in indigo suede, while ‘EAST’ is scripted on the additional tongue tag.
A polaroid sticker will be included with each pair, featuring Vermont DJ A-Dog, who inspired the project. The first 100 units sold will also include a mixtape curated by DJ Crusty Cuts in tribute to A-Dog that will house music from iconic 90s skate videos.
The 18 East x Vans Half Cab drops on October 19 through the brand’s webstore and brick-and-mortar.