VAULT BY VANS, OTH AND PAUL LABONTÉ OFFER UP AN IMPREGNABLE SHOE
MONTRÉAL, QC – Off The Hook and Vans are proud to announce the upcoming release of the Paul Labonté Vans Authentic Vault LX. The all-white design takes cue from Paul Labonté’s interest in graffiti and Montreal’s hip hop movement in the late ‘90s, also marking the early beginnings of the original Off The Hook boutique.
Paul Labonté / Paul 107
Paul Labonté, nicknamed Paul 107, is Montreal’s original rainmaker – no one seems to know exactly what he does, yet he does it all. Paul wore many hats before the internet made it normal to do so, working internationally as a photographer, writer, director, publisher, consultant and curator, as well as having written several books. Over the years, Paul has become a mentor to many Montreal creatives and up-and-coming artists, some whom came through OTH. With this attitude in mind, it only seems fitting that the shoe he designed is what he thinks of an impregnable Vans Authentic.
The Paul Labonté Authentic Vault LX
The Vault by Vans x OTH x Paul Labonté Authentic Vault LX was born out of Paul’s early fascination with street fashion, hip hop, graffiti, and a desire to create a pair of impregnable Authentic. Only 107 pairs were made – a nod to the 107 bus that took Paul from his neighbourhood to downtown Montreal, where he discovered many things that ended up shaping his life like record stores, graffiti, and the downtown core. Not to mention, the original OTH store was on the 107’s route, emphasizing the importance of this bus to our humble beginnings.
20-ounce duck canvas in true white harkens back to the super crisp white sneakers which became a staple of street fashion in the nineties and early aughts. The shoe features Vans’ original sip sole and the words “one hundred and seven'' embroidered on the tongue in the handstyle of Paul’s long-time friend and Montréal’s graffiti artist Shok SIK. The same handstyle graphic can be found on the included dust bag and the pouch holding the extra white laces. Off The Hook branding is seen on the back of the Vans label and also included alongside Vans’ logo and Paul’s name on the canvas insole.
The Vault by Vans x OTH x Paul Labonté Authentic Vault LX will retail for 120 $ CAD and be available on Wednesday, April 22nd at 9:00 AM EST on offthehook.ca.
