Vans, the American skateboarding brand, has been taking lessons in Italian workwear. After teaming up with Milanese retailer Slam Jam, with whom Vans previously collaborated on a bespoke rework of the classic Sk8-Hi in 2022, the two have launched a new capsule inspired by industrial garments, reimagined through their shared history of creative subversion.

Milan-based Slam Jam has been shaping street-leaning fashion for over 40 years, championing brands like Carhartt WIP and UNDERCOVER way before streetwear and workwear were recognized as the forefront of fashion.

This matured experience is channeled in collaborative reworks that not only visually rejuvenate heritage pieces, but also imbue them with cultural relevance. 

Skaters have long been drawn to blue-collar gear, famously epitomized by brands like Dickies whose sturdy twill 874 pants became a half-pipe classic.

In that sense, Vans and Slam Jam are simply refining a well-tested formula.

The “Act of Disagreement” collection taps into the angst of the early 2000s embodied by the teenagers in Larry Clark's divisive Ken Park.

Through that restless nostalgia, Slam Jam builds a link to modern tastes.

The full range, sold on Vans’ website as part of the high-end Vans Premium line, leans heavily into outerwear. Utility garments like motocross racing pants and a two-piece electrician uniform are joined by eclectic pieces like a Kevlar-armored coach jacket and classics like puffers, baggy hoodies and tees.

Beyond the designs, Slam Jam’s imprint is apparent in the clothes’ palette, a blend of desaturated greys and muted tones familiar to the Italian boutique's partnerships.

This only serves to make the line that much more wearable. Turns out, “Act of Disagreement” isn't so disagreeable after all.

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