Vans’ Half Cab Skate Shoe is Beautified Through Crochet

One of Vans’ most recognizable skate shoes, the Half Cab, has been reissued. This normally means, in sneaker terms, that it has been rereleased with the exact same specs that it first hit the market with (which in the case of the Vans Half Cab, was back in 1992). 

However, there’s something starkly different between the Vans Half Cab Reissue 33 EK and the OG, grippy Half Cab skate shoe: this new one has been crocheted. 

In honor of the first Vans factory in Anaheim, California, the brand has taken its original Half Cab model and decorated it with a colorful, knitted upper.

The sneakers mix and match different patterns, including Vans’ signature checkerboard print, created through knitted crochet. 

There’s no saying how well this fabric will hold out against the grip tape of a skateboard because, well, skate shoes are never normally knitted from crochet (however, I would suggest opting for a different pair of Half Cabs if you want a pair of daily skate shoes to shred).

The shoes are available now from Slam Jam in two colorways (a dark navy blue/black iteration and a colorful mix of blue, green, and white) retailing for $114.

Crochet isn’t a new trend. Those who haven’t buried the events of 2020 deep into the back of their mind will remember it peaking in popularity during the COVID-19-induced lockdowns. The boredom of being constrained to your own four walls meant that many found crochet a good way to pass the time.

And it has remained popular, with some of our favorite labels continuing to experiment with the traditional knitting technique (such as the American Luxury label BODE, artisanal fashion experts Story MFG, and SSU, a fledgling Italian brand).

Now, even skate shoes are being crocheted.