Aaron Hope 
When Japanese fashion label Silas (and Maria) collaborates with Vans, we know their name is going to take center stage; the question is: how will it be implemented? We’ve seen a bold ‘SILAS’ print back in 2009 done in a colorway that would kill it this spring, last year’s embroidery-heavy Mark Foster collabo and now this new Vans Era in conjunction with London’s Slam City Skates. These feature a black suede toe for serious skate performance, but your eye will naturally fall upon the camouflage canvas mid panels and blaze orange hits on the eyelets and heel tab. Silas branding is hidden in the camo and apparent on the outer heels and insole, where a flaming Slam City skull reminds us which store got in as the third leg of this terrific trio. And make that a quartet, courtesy of a Silas-branded Nalgene polycarbonate bottle, the kind of thing that can handle any gap you can clear and raise you by another few stories. A subtly rugged set from a Japanese mainstay, the Silas x Slam City Eras will arrive at select retailers in July. via EK
