Vans OTW Celebrates Los Angeles Streetwear with the Block Collection

Each season, the Vans OTW Collection blends elements of modern design with the classic Vans aesthetic to present a progressive-yet-premium array of footwear that is informed by global street fashion. As a special project, the Vans OTW design team examined various streetwear epicenters across the globe and worked directly with local influencers to create product that truly represented their communities, their "blocks." Vans OTW launches the Block Collection this spring with a capsule that is inspired by the culture, personalities and trends of Los Angeles' Fairfax and La Brea neighborhoods.

The LA installment of the Block Collection introduces new color-ups of the Bedford, Prescott and Tesella. The three-piece ensemble pulls inspiration from Southern California's sneaker scene with an offering that is emblematic of old school athletic wear and skate fashion. The Bedford kicks off the assortment as a refined rendering of Vans' iconic mid-top, the Half Cab. The Black/Navy edition of the Bedford references '90s court sneaker styling with poly canvas uppers, leather mudguard paneling and sport laces in a two-toned color palette. The range continues with the Prescott, which attributes its profile and hues to the vintage off-white colorway of the Vans Authentic.  Deluxe details such as pig suede overlays, zigzag stitching, plaid linings and secondary heel foxing wraps put a fresh twist on the Classic form. The Tesella connotes the forward-thinking direction of OTW as it expresses Vans' storied checkerboard print as a handwoven upper pattern on top of UltraCush™ Lite outsoles. Retro sportswear cues influence the look of the Tesella as mic suede, air mesh, star-print accents and speckled midsoles finish the pair. Get a closer look at this special project on OffTheWall.TV (also viewable on YouTube).