UPDATE June 28th, 2022:
Joe Freshgoods has recently taken to Instagram to unveil his first-ever collection with Vans Vault. Dubbed “The Honeymoon Stage,” Robinson writes the capsule is “basically signaling the start to a strange yet educational relationship between myself and Vans this year. This is the mixtape before the album, Ha.” The collection consists of three pairs of the Style 36 LX and will be accompanied by apparel, all to exclusively drop via JFG’s channels.
Joe Freshgoods has kept relatively quiet since momentarily “breaking” Instagram Shop in mid-May with his New Balance 90/60 drop. Recently, the Chicago-native took to Instagram Stories to tease the next chapter of his impressive product design career: a collaboration with Vans.
While the nature of the partnership is yet to be disclosed in detail by either party, it’s possible JFG – birth name Joseph Robinson – went into his first project with the Anaheim, California-headquartered company as he did with his first New Balance design: How to make this product genuinely connect with an audience (Chicago) that likely hasn’t been open to it? Co-branded Vault by Vans shoe boxes were posted to social media by the 30-something-year-old, with side panels donning “EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON” messaging. The text delivers stark contrast to the predominantly rose-colored packaging, which also took over Joe Freshgoods’ latest “N”-branded sneaker design. The JFG x Vans drop may fall under the “Inside Voices” theme of the aforementioned New Balance collaboration, but it also may be the starting point of an entirely new narrative. (Interestingly enough, Robinson included a picture of a pink-colored Range Rover in his Instagram Stories, which may nod to the fact that his first “big splurge” from money he had earned in the fashion space was a Land Rover vehicle.) There’s also no telling what silhouette the Midwesterner has chosen for his joint-effort, but a Vans Slip-On would make sense given summer is underway.
Enjoy another shot of Freshgoods’ teaser images ahead, and anticipate a Vans.com release before 2022 ends.
For more from the Boston-based brand, check out the New Balance 990v6.
UPDATE June 27th, 2022:
Joe Freshgoods has recently taken to Instagram to show an on-foot look at his Vault by Vans collaboration.