text: We’re willing to bet that at least one person in your studio is wearing or owns a pair of Vans right now. Not so much just a shoe representing a subculture anymore, Vans are everywhere. It’s easy to see why. But whilst they’re a lot of things, built to last the rigours of a tough trade, is not necessarily one of them. That’s why we were so intrigued when we received an email showing us the new range from the California brand; made for the makers collection.
  “Vans’ Made for the Makers collection is a meticulously designed classic engineered for tough jobs and made specifically for the creative communities that embody them. For the artist, surfboard shaper, barber, Illustrator, tattoo artist or chef, the Made for the Makers collection was built to maximize comfort so that makers can do what they love all day, every day without sacrificing personal style.
  The collection features sleek, all black versions of beloved Vans silhouettes – the Sk8-Hi Reissue UC, Old Skool UC, Authentic UC and Classic Slip-On UC. Each style features a vulcanized lugged outsole for increased traction, Vansguard canvas uppers to repel liquid and dirt, complete with a contoured, drop-in UltraCush sockliner for all-day maximum comfort.”
  The collection is available at vans.eu and Vans retailers across Europe.
  We have worn the Old School Made for the Makers in the studio and it lives up to being a tough shoe for tough jobs, with the added benefit of the Ultracush sole, which feels close to the incredibly comfortable liner of my Vans Pro SK8’s. There’s a reason why I’ve worn various versions of that shoe daily for 5+ years. So now we have a collection that has all the comfort and wearability of other Vans, look great, and can stand up to ink spills, foot pedals and anything else you throw at them.
  *This is not a paid promotion. We were sent a pair of the Made for the Makers collection and have been wearing them to try them out, but we received nothing else to make this article*
  James McCauley
  James Mccauley has helped out with Nine mag since its inception and nurtured the transition to a free, web-based format. Now he is responsible for writing the features and interviews for the site.