TOWER X Vans

Vans has long been one of our favourite brands here at TOWER HQ and, given the number of pairs you buy, it’s clearly one of your top labels. With this in mind we’ve been working closely with the Vans team to create a special window for our flagship store that celebrates one of their most iconic styles: the Old Skool.

Working hand in glove with Vans, our window builds on the Old Skool’s DNA—classic low-top profiles, the signature side stripe and durable suedes—presented with a contemporary editorial twist that speaks to both skate heritage and city style. The display has been designed to feel both archival and fresh, spotlighting the silhouette’s timeless lines while highlighting current colourways and textures you’ll want to wear now.

Events & giveaways

Launching today at 119 High Road, the window is accompanied by a series of Vans-focused blog posts and social updates over the next few days, plus a Twitter competition to win two tickets to the House of Vans party in London on Friday 10th April. Follow us on Twitter now to find out how to enter.

As if that weren’t enough, we’ll also be giving away a small Vans gift with every purchase of their shoes at one of our stores. It’s a little touch from us to celebrate the collaboration and the customers who keep reaching for Vans season after season.

A mini history of the Old Skool

Debuted in 1977, the Old Skool began life as the Style 36 and was the first skate shoe to use leather in its design. An instant favourite of early BMX riders and the skateboarders of the Dogtown era, the shoe became even more popular thanks to the 80s trend of customisation. “Customization for the Old Skool became very popular in the early 80s because there were so many parts you could change in terms of colours and patterns,” recalls Steve Van Doren, son of Paul Van Doren and current VP of Events and Promotions. Since then, the shoe has continued to appeal to a wide range of people through reissued prints and the brand’s ability to evolve the style via collaborations (including Supreme and Marc Jacobs) while still staying true to its heritage.

Across decades and subcultures the Old Skool has proved endlessly adaptable—pair it with denim and a tee for effortless weekendwear, or use it to add a relaxed counterpoint to sharper tailoring. Its longevity comes down to that rare mix of function, simplicity and character: a design that looks as good on the pavement as it does in fashion editorials.

Pop into 119 High Road to see the window in person, or browse the current Old Skool colourways online.

Shop Old Skool now:

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