Blending Japanese design with Western styling, Tokyo menswear company Bedwin & The Heartbreakers turned heads when it launched in 2004, becoming one of the first brands in Japan to combine streetwear and tailored menswear. Since then, the brand has only gained notoriety, opening its flagship Tokyo store in 2017, which now serves as a community hub beyond retail.
Founded by Masafumi “Bebeton” Watanabe, Bedwin & The Heartbreakers was developed under the umbrella of DLX Tokyo, taking its inspiration from traditional American menswear and 1920s and 1930s Americana. Drawing on its ethos of global travel, Bedwin & The Heartbreakers seamlessly blends different cultures and styles, earning them a strong global following.
Through numerous artist, musician and designer collaborations, the brand has continued to challenge the baseline of what defines “streetwear,” consistently pushing the boundaries of creativity and self-expression.
For this collaboration with Vault by Vans, Bedwin & The Heartbreakers draws on heritage textiles, using USA-made bandanas cut at different seams to exalt the level of detail and craftsmanship and ensure no two pairs are alike.
Vans’ original style, the Authentic LX, gets the Bedwin & The Heartbreakers treatment in three different bandana colorways. Subtle pattern variations make for a unique shoe and a red foxing stripe paired with a red “Off The Wall” heel logo nods to Vans’ classic heritage.
The Old Skool LX, the first shoe to bear Vans’ iconic Sidestripe, is elevated in rich blue canvas and suede, with a bandana Sidestripe and tongue.
In addition to the footwear, Vault by Vans x Bedwin and the Heartbreakers introduce apparel and accessories, for a true head-to-toe collection. The apparel component consists of a white, short-sleeve logo tee, allover patchwork bandana short-sleeve tee, as well as a grey pullover hoodie with “Off the Wall” text printed on the front. Lastly, the collection features a classic bucket hat in two colorways – blue bandana and multicolored bandana.
The Vault by Vans x Bedwin & The Heartbreakers collaboration will be available beginning July 24th, 2021 at Vault By Vans retail locations. For more information and where to purchase, please visit The Drop List, a calendar of Vans’ most exclusive product drops.
