BEAMS and Vans Collaborate on GORE-TEX and Hybrid Era Models

Japanese retailer BEAMS and skate brand Vans have collaborated to release two updated versions of classic Vans footwear models: the Era95 GORE-TEX and the Skool Era. This partnership reimagines iconic silhouettes through both technical enhancements and distinct design approaches, moving beyond simple reissues to incorporate experimental elements. The collaboration aims to reinterpret the brand's established designs by integrating new materials and blending different stylistic influences.

The Era95 GORE-TEX model takes the foundational Era silhouette, originally introduced in 1976 with input from skateboarders Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, and rebuilds it with GORE-TEX fabric and a Vibram sole. This update enhances the shoe's functionality by adding waterproofing and breathability, while the Vibram sole provides improved grip. The design maintains the Era's original padded collar for ankle support, positioning the weather-ready features as a continuation of the shoe's functional design principles.

The Skool Era model adopts a different approach by merging two of Vans' most recognizable designs into a single hybrid shoe. The exterior of the Skool Era features the distinctive side stripe characteristic of the Old Skool model, which first debuted in 1977 and became a signature visual element for Vans. In contrast, the interior of the shoe incorporates the more minimalist construction of the Era. This combination creates a study in contrasts, pairing a prominent graphic identifier with a simpler silhouette, allowing two distinct design eras to coexist within one shoe.

The BEAMS x Vans Era95 GORE-TEX is priced at ¥15,400 JPY (approximately $95 USD), while the BEAMS x Vans Skool Era is priced at ¥21,450 JPY (approximately $130 USD). Both models are scheduled for release on July 3rd and will be available for purchase through BEAMS. The collaboration frames these two distinct reinterpretations as an exercise in exploring the brand's heritage through contemporary innovation and design.