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Toronto-based brand Better Gift Shop teams up with Vault by Vans to introduce two new takes on the Vans Style 36 VLT and Vans Half Cab VLT. This sneaker duo reworks the first Better Gift Shop x Vans collection which released in 2020.
Better looked to its own storefront as inspiration for this sneaker pack. Their Toronto location boasts a Forest Green exterior which is referenced on the Vans Style 36 VLT. The pair is complete White overlays, Grey laces, and a White midsole.
The Vans Half Cab VLT comes in Burgundy and Pewter which is seen on the shop’s storefront gates. The sneaker is crafted with long-hair suede uppers, Black laces, and a Black midsole.
Both sneakers are given reflective lace options with Better Gift Shop branding on the lace tips. Each pair ships in a custom box that illustrates the brand’s iconic Toronto flagship store.
For the campaign, Better Gift Shop highlighted the legendary Hong Luck Kung Fu Club, a nonprofit organization that has been offering kung fu, martial arts, Lion Dance training, and Lion Dance services for 60+ years.
“Community is everything, and we’ve always wanted to design a shoe that takes inspiration from our surroundings,” said the Better Gift Shop team. “Working with our neighbors is something we’ve always wanted to do, and Vans gave us that opportunity. Incorporating the Hong Luck Kung Fu Club was a natural integration into the campaign.”
The Hong Luck Kung Fu Club is seen performing traditional Lion Dancing in the campaign as a way to uphold Asian culture within Canadian communities.
The Better Gift Shop x Vault by Vans Collaboration releases on October 8, 2022. The Vans Style 36 VLT is priced at $160 CAD, while the Vans Half Cab VLT is priced at $180 CAD. To purchase, visit Better Gift Shop in Toronto, bettergiftshop.com, and select Vault by Vans retailers, such as Dover Street Market and Beams.
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