Vans' New Downtown LA Store Focuses On Its Community
Showcasing works from local artists and photos of legendary skaters.
Despite California being the skate brand’s base, Vans has never opened a retail store in Downtown Los Angeles — until now.
Finding its home at 808 S. Broadway, the DTLA store doubles as an events space, its design and decor paying homage to both the local and skate communities. Featuring a mural by LA-based artist Geoff McFetridge, as well as various works by local sign painter Julien Besser, other walls of the 11,500 square-foot space are dotted with photographs taken by legendary skateboarders such as Anthony Acosta, Tino Razo, Mike O’Meally, and Ray Barbee.
Aside from artists and skateboarders, the Vans DTLA store also hopes to represent local skate brands, offering a skate shop stocked with brands such as Baker, WKND, Girl, and Alva, along with its own Vans Pro Skate collection. Its second floor houses Studio808, a gallery collaboratively created with lifestyle magazine Monster Children, which will host various talks, exhibitions and workshops every month.
Finally, to make an even bigger impact on its local community, the skate company has partnered up with non-profits Chrysalis and Goodwill — both of which have workforce development initiatives for previously homeless or underprivileged youth — to recruit new talent and staff for its brand new store.
For those interested, you can learn more about Vans’ DTLA branch and its upcoming events over on its website.
Elsewhere in fashion, check out Elhaus’ self-produced fabrics in its Fall/Winter 2020 collection.
