Vans' too high-tech shoes that can beat any weather.

Vans" is a low-tech brand. There are no superfluous decorations in any of their shoes, and they usually don't incorporate features. This is the biggest appeal of "Vans" and the reason why skaters love them so much. However, the "MTE" series overturns this image. It is waterproof, warm, and grippy, with ultra-high-tech specifications. They are quite popular. For this issue, we took snaps in Tokyo and Hokkaido. We asked 10 people from completely different living environments, in the city and in the field, in the north and in the south, how they felt wearing the shoes.

Photo_Shingo Goya

Text_Keisuke Kimura

Edit_Soma Takeda

Sample 4: Masashi Kosugi, Space Art Director and Designer, THEHIGHLIGHT

PROFILE

Masashi Kosugi

Space Art Director and THEHIGHLIGHT Designer

Born in Kanagawa Prefecture, age 36, he also worked on the space design for "HNF - Festival of Huinamu -" and other events in 2019. He currently works for an event production company and also has his own brand "THEHIGHLIGHT". He loves camping and black gear.
Instagram:@masashikosugi, ,@thehighlight_creation

What is your impression of "Vans"?

I guess you could say that they are pioneers of shoes for skating and other active scenes.

Do you own a pair of Vans shoes?

I have been wearing the all-black "slip-ons" for a long time. I personally think that "VAN'S" shoes are not meant to be worn over and over again, and it is cool to wear them down, or rather, to nurture them.

How did you like the model you wore this time?

I was surprised to find that they are surprisingly lightweight, unlike their appearance. I thought they might be stuffy or tight, but that was not the case at all, and they look totally comfortable to wear on the street.

What do you think of the design?

It's quite different from the image of "Vans," but it's simply cool. I tend to wear black, so I think they go well with my own style. The narrower opening of the shoes makes them stylish, and the line with the pants looks nice.

Kosugi-san, you are a super camper. What kind of situation would you like to wear them?

I do mountain climbing and bushcraft, so I want to wear them when I'm out in the wild. By the way, waterproof shoes from "Vans" are really fresh.

Kosugi-san's fashion is all black.

It's pretty much all black (laughs). (Laughs) I also tend to wear nylons. I am conscious of what I wear depending on the occasion. When I am working as an art director, I try to wear something edgy, as it is a way of turning myself on.