The origins of skateboarding actually had its roots in surfing, whereby surfers who wanted to continue on riding the wave wherever they go attached wheels to their skateboards, allowing them to do so, and subsequently, birthing an entirely new subculture that has since eclipsed everything else to become one of the biggest influences of street culture anywhere.
It makes sense then, that New York cold-water surf company Pilgrim Surf + Supply have come together to celebrate not just the history, but the craft and culture of surfing.
Comprising of a colleciton of footwear and apparel, the silhouettes embody what fans of both brands have come to expect: quality fabrications, attention to detail, and surf specific functionality, crossing both brands’ DNA into a singular collection. The collaboration was only a matter of time waiting to happen, as its founder, Chris Gentile, has a penchant for blending surf with simple streetwear style.
“The inspiration for this collection comes from the innovations and creativity in surf and skate from the early ‘80s,” Gentile shared. “Growing up at that time working in a surf/skate shop, I got to witness a variety of new styles and design evolution, as well as learning about the personalities behind them. A line was being blurred between surf and skate – surfing was getting more vertical and interpretive, and the icons of the time had amazing personal style and creative expression unique to their own.”
The design marries vintage designs and fabrications to a decidedly modern surfer at the core. The colelction includes an Authentic SF in Pilgrim Celestial Blue, complete with custom-designed range of apparel and accessories in the same colour tone. Interestingly, the pants and shorts are crafted with nylon that’s made from recycled fibers.
The totebag features an exterior surfboard and towel carrier system, adjustable shoulder straps, exterior snap pocket, and interior snap closure.
“This was a chance for us to design some useful, unconventional yet functional tools into common, archetypal apparel and accessories,” Gentile said. “The capsule celebrates many core values we share as brands – one of which is our shared passion for finding the line or boundary, and crossing it.”
The collection is available now on Vans online as well as all retail outlets nationwide.
