Vans and Harris Tweed have more in common than we think…

On one hand you’ve got a skate shoe company that’s so iconic, it has now reached a stage where it can self-iterate in a way that only heritage fashion houses like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger can. And on the other hand you have a Scottish-bred fabric that was worn by aristocrats in the 1800s and is now protected by a legal definition. But where they overlap is even more interesting…

Both have been adopted and reinterpreted by different scenes over the years. Harris Tweed, once a signifier of class, country life and status, found its way into punk and post-punk wardrobes in the ’70s and ’80s, where traditional British fabrics were twisted into a kind of punchback against the establishment. Vans, meanwhile, grew from being a skate shoe into the kick of choice for punks, musicians and creatives.

The new Vans x Harris Tweed drop plays into both identities and fucks with what you’re expecting from either of them, wrapping dark, rich Harris Tweed around Vans classics like the Old Skool 36, Classic Slip-On 98 and Loafer 53.

There’s a very Vivienne Westwood-esque energy to the whole thing, with DIY embellishments like jewels, spikes, hoops, peace-sign charms and even paper clip pins, alongside greased midsoles and leopard-print footbeds. There’s also a Harris Tweed Snapback in the mix, decked out with tartan and plaid details, hardware and another hit of leopard print on the inside.

The Vans x Harris Tweed collection is coming soon to vans.com.au.