Taka Hayashi Discusses His Creative Process for the Vault by Vans 2016 Holiday Collection
The artist draws influence from his travels up the California coast.
Spanning a relationship that dates back 10 years now, creative polymath Taka Hayashi, since first applying his distinct design language onto the second Vans Syndicate project, has helped elevate some of the brand’s most revered silhouettes to new heights. For the Vault by Vans x Taka Hayashi Holiday 2016 collection, the artist applied a series of textiles and prints while also drawing influence not only from Vans’s diverse catalog but from his travels up the California coast to create a well-rounded range. Wanting to explore further, Taka Hayashi graciously took some time to explain his creative process and inspirations behind his latest collaboration with Vans:
What was the design inspiration for the Fall 2016 Vault by Vans x Taka Hayashi collection?
My inspiration for this collection stemmed from ’90s outdoor and retro athletic styles. I wanted to focus on a mix of neutrals and primary colors in the collection to create a unique and cohesive collection.
Where did you travel to this season to get inspiration?
For this collection, I wanted to draw inspiration from the outdoors and open spaces. I traveled up the California coast, stopping to spend time in Venice Beach, Ojai, Morro Bay, Big Sur and Berkley.
How did you go about choosing the fabric and patterns here?
I referenced some of my favorite vintage hiking footwear from my archive to design custom webbings and hardware. This also inspired me to dye the pony hair and incorporate leathers into the collection.
Why did you choose to work with the silhouettes presented here? Are there any new models you’ve worked on here that you haven’t approached before?
The Court Hi LX and Court Lo Strap LX are an evolution of the Canvas Court shoe that I designed a few seasons ago. I played around with the lacing system and wanted to design a high-cut version of the style for this season. The third silhouette, the Chukka Nomad LX, is based off the Chukka Boot with added details on the vamp of the shoe and the mud guard mock stitch.
Can you explain a bit about the etching on the shoe’s midsole?
The etching on the midsole is something that I’ve carried into my designs over the years, starting with the 2010 Pendleton collection. It’s a Native American-inspired pattern that I’ve incorporated into many of my silhouettes because I think it makes the style cohesive and ties back to the details on the upper — creating a family of design details within the collections.
What does the logo design seen at the sneakers’ tongue symbolize?
The logo design is an interpretation of my family crest logo. The original symbol has two feathers crossed in a circle and I wanted to incorporate design elements from my experience and heritage in skateboarding, which I drew from the Venice Beach skate scene.
