VANS

INTERVIEW with Vans Designer Jon Warren and Team Rider Geoff Rowley

Interviewed by: Matt Bauer Web Editor

Geoff Rowley:
Vans Team Rider

What was your specific objective with your new shoes design?
To delve into the hidden vaults of vans design history. I always liked the old "Lampin" shoe that the Rowley 'Specials' were based on. Such a unique visual design and yet very simple at the same time, which is always the best formula. The Shambles High was an early shot in the dark that we held off on releasing for a few seasons because we thought they were a little out there!! It turns out people are pumped on them! Everybody plus their mums are running highs. The low top was a wear tough, strictly skateboard designed shoe with the tightest fit and most amount of board-feel, coupled with an increased performance sock liner. It has to visually look good from every angle. The next objective is fit, than comes wear.

What is your favorite feature about your shoes?
They have the Vans off the wall skateboard logo on them.

Did you have any ideas you had that didn't make the final cut?
I am not conservative minded. If it rips it goes on there. Always. Hence the buckle on the Shambles High.

How many pairs of kicks do you go through in a year?
HAHA!! Not that many actually, I wear them until they are pretty mangled. The pinnacle of there life is usually when they perform the best for me.

Do you have a separate closet for all your kicks?
My kicks? My waffle grips!!! Vans shoes are so thin and bendy I just ram 'em in one closet. I have some made in the USA era's that I have stashed in another closet. I'm saving them for a rainy day.

What is your favorite thing to put on your feet when not rocking your signature kicks?
I like the blue eras, only the old made in the USA ones from the early nineties. Weirdo huh? Sneaker freak that!

Jon Warren:
Senior Designer, Footwear

What's the process like when you pick the brains of Rowley and other pros on ideas for new shoes?
Geoff and I talk about what goals we want the shoe to accomplish. We discuss what worked in the past and what aspects can be improved upon going forward. Like most things, there is always room for improvement. Geoff is very serious about how his shoe fits, performs, and looks. Every shoe that comes out with his name on it has been worked on directly by him.

What is the priority in building a signature shoe, function or style?
Always both. We try and create a balanced product that can skate well, but also look good on the foot. I think it's important to inject the Pro's personality into the shoe. Sometimes the material alone can have the strongest voice in conveying that. For Geoff, he uses a lot of Synthetic materials, has a strong interest in historic military uniforms and likes hunting gear so you will consistently see Colorways reflecting these themes.

Did you use anything out of the ordinary for inspiration on these styles?
For the Rowley "Shambles" Hi special concept project in Fall 2008, we commissioned a designer named Taka Hayashi to apply his trademark look to the original design of the shoe. Taka is known for really freaking out anything he designs so we let him run and got a very interesting result. Geoff and I liked the new version so much that we rolled it out for the in-line Colorways the next season. As a designer, I think it is important to be open to those types of experiences because a lot of good can be achieved by mixing in so many creative minds.

What's the weirdest request you've got from a pro on shoe design?
Greco brought in a dress shoe with a 4 inch heel and told me that was the only shoe he wanted to skate in. Dill handed me a pair of $400 Prada shoes and said to make it into a skate shoe.

Can you run us through the process of designing a shoe?
Nothing is brief in making a shoe. Over the course of 18 months the Pros and I meet a bunch of times and do tons of sketch work then the initial approval process begins: the Category Directors, the Sales force, and fellow Designers all meet to sign off on the final concept. Then we meet some more, travel to China for 2-3 weeks, pre-line the sample shoes internally, make revisions, receive more samples, get wear test feedback from the Pros, make more revisions, create a ton of Colorways options, receive more samples, pre-line again, shoot a catalog, make more revisions, and then we have a confirmable product that will eventually ship to your favorite skate shop.

What is your favorite Vans model?
My first real skate shoe was the Chukka Boot. It was my introduction to skateboarding when I moved to California back in 1986 so there is a soft spot for those and also because Matt Hensley wore them.

Make sure you check out VANS to get your new kicks today.