18 East’s Vans Collaboration Is A Heartfelt Interpretation Of The OG Half Cab

The brand's first Vans collaboration drops on October 19th.

Sneaker News October 18, 2023

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18 East founder Antonio Ciongoli didn’t need to look far to find inspiration for his label’s first ever collaboration with Vans. More often than not, personal memories and experiences can the best creative source material for collaborations, which is why their upcoming release is simply a must for any skater.

Ciongoli calls back to a moment when, at age 11, he met Packy McGurn, a fellow skater five years his senior who he remembers as “the coolest human being I’ve ever met”. That’s where Antonio’s obsession with the Half Cab and introduction into skate began, and now he’s sharing that core memory through this three-shoe capsule launching on October 19th.

Offered in three colorways (Black/Navy, Ecru/Off-white, and Espresso/Latte), the 18 East x Vans Half Cab features an indigo suede label ankle, textured pattern at the ankle from their signature Gorecki cargo pant, call-outs to Packy, A-Dog, and 145 Cherry (places and names dear to Ciongoli’s heart), and other skate-ready durable material selections such as ripstop cotton and densely padded tongues.

The 18 East x Vans Half Cab drops exclusively at 18 East in-store and online on October 19th, with the first 100 sold units coming packaged with a cassette of SLOW FIDELITY SESSIONS vol. 1 — a mixtape made by DJ Crusty Cuts in tribute to A-Dog.