CLASSIC & FAMILY
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ISSUE 3 - FALL 13
CLASSIC & FAMILY ISSUE 3 - FALL 13
In 1966, the Van Doren Rubber Company opened for business in Anaheim, CA. A simple canvas shoe, locally made for and sold on the spot to its customers, would make its mark with a simple message: If you love your Vans, bring a friend. Deeply rooted in the California beach town way of life, the appeal of its individualistic aesthetic and message began to draw attention across state and national borders. Before long, skateboarders noticed the sticky gum rubber sole and sturdy construction that helped them stick their tricks and invent more. Close to half a century later, what began with the Authentic has evolved into a full line of heritage silhouettes representing the heart and identity of Vans. Having travelled the world to showcase our global Vans Family in the first two issues of the Classic & Family lookbook, we were ready to come back home and spend some quality time in the place where it all began. Through the eyes of a few of the most aspirational photographers from all ends of the state, the incredible variety in scenery and culture that stretches from San Francisco through Los Angeles to San Diego illustrates the rhyme and reason behind Vans Classics. San Francisco’s Ray Potes has an eye and a soft spot for all things odd, while Los Angeles based Alexis Gross takes photography to its most unadulterated forms, and San Diego local Aaron Regan reintroduces us to the effortless beauty of the California dream. Three photographers to remind us three times over of the root and anchor of what we do. We are excited to share a piece of it on these pages.
EDITOR IN CHIEF JULIA FROEMEL / ART DIRECTOR MICHAEL DE WIT / EDITOR CORNELIA VON HASSELBACH - POZZEBON THIS IS A VANS, INC. PUBLICATION, PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. ALL PHOTOGRAPHS, GRAPHICS DESIGNS AND ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE PUBLICATION ARE LEGALLY PROTECTED AGAINST ANY UNAUTHORIZED USE, COPYING OR REPRODUCTION. ANY USE, COPYING OR REPRODUCTION OF SUCH PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC DESIGN AND/OR ILLUSTRATION FOR ANY PURPOSE REQUIRES THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF VANS, INC.
SLIP ON - (CHECKERBOARD) BRILLANT BLUE/GREEN FLASH
SK8 HI PLATFORM - (STUDDED) BLACK /TRUE WHITE
ERA - BLACK
TOP: ERA DECON CA - CAMO BROWN, BOTTOM: SK8-HI - BLACK
SLIP ON - (CHECKERBOARD) BRILLANT BLUE/GREEN FLASH
ERA - (INCA) BLACK/PINK
AUTHENTIC - RED,
THIS PAGE: AUTHENTIC - TRUE WHITE, AUTHENTIC - BLACK/BLACK, ERA 59 - (C&L) RED/LEOPARD
SK8-HI = BLACK
AUTHENTIC - RED, AUTHENTIC - (IRIDESCENT GLITTER) BLUE/TRUE WHITE
SK8-HI WEDGE - NAVY/ TRUE WHITE
106 HI - BLACK/TRUE WHITE
SK8-HI - BLACK
AUTHENTIC DECON CA - DRESS BLUES
AUTHENTIC - (TIGER) BROWN/TRUE WHITE
SK8-HI - TRUE WHITE
AUTHENTIC - (WAXED CANVAS) CAMO/MARSHMALLOW
ERA - (INCA) BLACK/PINK
LEFT PAGE: OLD SKOOL - (SUEDE LEOPARD) BLACK/TRUE WHITE, RIGHT PAGE: ERA - (LIBERTY) MOUNTAINS ARMY
ERA 59 - (C&L) NAVY/STRIPES
ERA - (LIBERTY) PAISLEY/NAVY
AUTHENTIC - TRUE WHITE
ERA - (MICRO HERRING) BLACK/TRUE WHITE, ERA - (HARO) GREEN
ERA - BLACK
AUTHENTIC - (LACE) NEON PINK
SK8 HI REISSUE - (VAN DOREN) HIGH RISE/MAZE
THIS PAGE: ERA - (VAN DOREN) ALOHA/CHECKER, RIGHT PAGE: ERA - (FOIL PAINT SPLATS) BLACK/TRUE WHITE
SK8 HI REISSUE - (VAN DOREN) HIGH RISE/MAZE
OLD SKOOL - (SUEDE LEOPARD) BLACK/TRUE WHITE
ERA - (VAN DOREN) HIGH RISE/MAZE
ERA - (VAN DOREN) HIGH RISE/MAZE
SK8 HI PLATFORM - (STUDDED) BLACK /TRUE WHITE
AUTHENTIC SLIM - (CHAMBRAY DOTS) DRESS BLUES/WHITES
AUTHENTIC - RED
AUTHENTIC SLIM - (CHAMBRAY DOTS) GREY/HOT CORAL
AUTHENTIC - (TIGER) BLACK/TRUE WHITE
AUTHENTIC SLIM - (CHAMBRAY DOTS) GREY/HOT CORAL
AUTHENTIC DECON CA - PORT ROYAL
AUTHENTIC - (IRIDISCENT GLITTER) BLUE/TRUE WHITE
SK8-HI - BLACK
SK8-HI SLIM - FROST GRAY/TRUE WHITE, ERA - (3 TONE) CHARCOAL/STEVE NAVY
THIS PAGE: ERA - (LIBERTY) PAISLEY/NAVY, RIGHT PAGE: ERA - (VAN DOREN) ALOHA/CHECKER
THIS PAGE: SK8-HI - BLACK/BLACK, RIGHT PAGE: ERA - BLACK
LEFT PAGE: SK8-HI - BLACK, THIS PAGE: ERA - BLACK
SK8-HI - TRUE WHITE
SK8-HI - BLACK/BLACK
ERA - (VAN DOREN) ALOHA/CHECKER
AUTHENTIC - (CHAMBRAY DOTS) GREY/HOT CORAL
ERA - (VAN DOREN) ALOHA/CHECKER
AUTHENTIC - (LACE) NEON PINK
AUTHENTIC - (LIBERTY) LEAVES/PINK
LEFT PAGE: ERA DECON CA - CAMO BROWN, RIGHT PAGE: LPE - (S&P) BLACK
ERA DECON CA - CAMO BROWN, LPE - (S&P) BLACK
LOCALS ONLY CALIFORNIA LOCALS SHOW YOU OUR BACKYARD.
ALEXIS GROSS How did photography enter your life? My ma was really into photography her whole life. Seeing all her photos made me realize the opportunities you can have with a camera in your hand. I tried to take a photo class in high school but I hated it. I picked it up again when I was 19 and haven’t stopped since. How would you describe your creative process or particular techniques and tools? For me, it’s not really about the equipment but more so the scanning process. Everything I use is the cheapest version of what I need. A $10.00 toy camera, film from Rite Aid or CVS, a $40 scanner, and the nearest Walgreens for processing. I print every single photo I take after scanning my selections. I was never formally trained with anything involving the computer, which is why my photos are always scanned in at a large scale and unedited. I am now more well-versed in Photoshop necessities but why change something that, at this point, is part of my signature presentation. What is your connection to California and the city and area you live in today? My first time to California was an impromptu trip for my first zine I was working on. It ended up being life-changing, from the music I was exposed to the people I got to meet, and the places within Los Angeles that I got to see. The smell in the air alone was enough to convince me that I needed to move there as soon as possible. I just had to light the fire under my ass to get me to move there because my life in New York City was so comfortable. I currently live in Hollywood and I love it! Endless, incredible people watching. Who did you photograph for this issue? I photographed all my friends who I felt lead the appropriate lives of a Vans wearer. Skateboarders, artists, rappers, musicians, and designers. All people whom I am lucky enough to know and engage with in California. I kept true to myself and my typical subject matter making this the most pleasurable job I’ve ever had as a photographer. www.alexisgross.com
RAY POTES What brought you from your hometown San Diego to San Francisco? What makes them different? I was living in Hawaii at the time and felt like moving back to California. A lot of my friends were moving or already moved to San Francisco, so I just went with it. San Francisco is a city city, it’s not so spread out. It is tighter and compact and lots of different kinds of people have to deal with each other on a daily basis. It’s awesome for photos. I don’t need a car. Bike or skateboard everywhere. Makes it easier to get photos off every day. Which aspects of photography make you come back for more? It’s fun and easy. I just try to keep telling myself to shoot a lot when I’m shooting. I get all kinds of different assignments. Not a lot though, could always use more! What can one find on the pages of Hamburger Eyes? Hamburger Eyes started as a zine, but now it’s a publishing company where we publish all kinds of zines. I do the editing and layouts, printing, gluing, stapling, and cutting. There’s no words, but I guess all the photos would add up to worth millions of words. What kind of projects do you have lined up? Just more of the same, making zines. And I’d like to make some short films/videos. The writing is the hardest part. What do California and Vans mean to you? Freedom. I like to shoot at the beach. But it’s hard to get any work done when the weather is nice, which is all the time. I’ve been wearing Vans since I was a little kid. Still do! What’s the second best thing to do in California? Eating! www.raypotes.com
AARON REGAN Where do you live? I live in Encinitas, California, and was raised in Southern California and have lived here all my life. I live now in the same neighborhood that I was born in, kind of weird. My son was born here as well. Full circle I guess. I guess it’s hard to leave Southern California, it’s home. Was California in and of itself part of the reason you took up photography? No. Well, maybe in some form or another. I got more into it from working at Transworld Skateboarding magazine. Looking at good photos all day and just learning why a good photo is a good photo. They had a darkroom as well and I would print there at night. Glad I got to experience that side of photography. How would you describe your connection to California? I like how I can only drive a few miles west and all roads, buildings and everything else on land ends. It’s less then a half hour drive to get to downtown San Diego and the border into Mexico is close as well. Encinitas has grown a lot since the nineties and the little downtown/101 area has cleaned up a lot. I liked it when there wasn’t so much money here, was way more of just a beach town and not as much going on. What role has Vans played in your life? I went through a lot of pairs of Vans growing up skating. Once you got used to Vans, it always felt strange to wear any other. Saw a lot of pro skaters when I was a kid that wore Vans, they were the cool shoes back then, still are. What’s the next mission on your calendar, California or other? Hopefully, other. Want to travel with my wife and kids to somewhere new. There’s so much that I haven’t seen that’s just a half-day drive to get to from here. Just need to find the time and do it. I want to camp in the desert soon with my family, maybe southern Utah. Anywhere a few hours away from home is fine with me. www.aaronpregan.com
COVER RAY POTES
INSIDE COVER AARON REGAN
PAGE 02-03 AARON REGAN
PAGE 05-06 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 07-08 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 09-10 TOP LEFT, RIGHT: RAY POTES BOTTOM: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 11-12 AARON REGAN
PAGE 13-14 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 15-16 RAY POTES
PAGE 17-18 VANS X HARO PATTERN
PAGE 19-20 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: RAY POTES
PAGE 21-22 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: AARON REGAN
PAGE 23-24 LEFT: RAY POTES RIGHT: RAY POTES
PAGE 25-26 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: AARON REGAN
PAGE 27-28 AARON REGAN
PAGE 29-30 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 31-32 AARON REGAN
PAGE 33-34 RAY POTES
PAGE 35-36 AARON REGAN
PAGE 37-38 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 39-40 ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 41-42 RAY POTES
PAGE 43-44 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 45-46 AARON REGAN
PAGE 47-48 ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 49-50 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 51-52 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 53-54 RAY POTES
PAGE 55-56 ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 57-58 RAY POTES
PAGE 59-60 VANS X LIBERY ART FABRICS
PAGE 61-62 AARON REGAN
PAGE 63-64 AARON REGAN
PAGE 65-66 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 67-68 RAY POTES
PAGE 69-70 SPREAD: AARON REGAN RIGHT: AARON REGAN
PAGE 71-72 LEFT: RAY POTES RIGHT: RAY POTES
PAGE 73-74 LEFT: AARON REGAN RIGHT: AARON REGAN
PAGE 75-76 AARON REGAN
PAGE 77-78 LEFT: RAY POTES RIGHT: RAY POTES
PAGE 79-80 LEFT: AARON REGAN RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 81-82 LEFT: AARON REGAN RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 83-84 LEFT: RAY POTES RIGHT: RAY POTES
PAGE 85-86 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS MIDDLE: AARON REGAN RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 87-88 VAN DOREN VANOSAUR PRINT
PAGE 89-90 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 91-92 AARON REGAN
PAGE 93-94 AARON REGAN
PAGE 95-96 LEFT: AARON REGAN RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 97-98 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 99-100 LEFT: ALEXIS GROSS RIGHT: ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 101-102 SPREAD: AARON REGAN RIGHT: AARON REGAN
PAGE 103-104 AARON REGAN
PAGE 105-106 AARON REGAN
PAGE 107-108 AARON REGAN
PAGE 109-110 ALEXIS GROSS
PAGE 111-112 AARON REGAN
PAGE 113-114 RAY POTES
PAGE 115-116 VAN DOREN ALOHA PRINT
PAGE 117-118 SPREAD: RAY POTES MIDDLE: RAY POTES
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