Vans has been on a roll lately. Between crochet Half Cabs, pearlised Authentics, and sold-out Old Skools inspired by rare Chanel bags, the brand has shown a willingness to push its skate silhouettes into unexpected territory. Its latest collaboration, with Los Angeles label Better With Age, might be the most fitting yet.
Founded by Remy Milchman, Better With Age has built a devoted following by sourcing vintage garments and redesigning them by hand. Graphic-heavy tees, washed jorts covered in patches, and a general "streetwear-wearing punk skater" energy define the label. So when Vans came calling, the fit felt almost too obvious.
The collaborative Authentic arrives in sun-faded blue canvas, sitting atop a deliberately yellowed platform sole. Co-branded leather labels replace the standard tongue tag, and oversized vintage patches are scattered across the upper. The Half Cab follows a similar blueprint but swaps the canvas for leather kiltie tassels, adding a layer of texture that pushes the shoe further into luxury-adjacent territory.
The real hook, however, is the patch system itself. Every pair comes with a set of actual vintage patches that are attached via hook-and-loop backing. Buyers can rearrange them, remove them entirely, or swap in their own. At a launch workshop at Dover Street Market London on May 15, five days before the wider release, Better With Age will let attendees customise their pairs in person, adding brass beads into the mix for an extra hit of personalisation.
The DSM event also marks the debut of the brand's Spring/Summer 2026 collection, alongside an exclusive t-shirt and a t-shirt archive book. It is a smart move, bundling the product drop with an experience that reinforces the label's DIY ethos. In an era where sneaker collaborations often feel like little more than a colour swap, Better With Age has delivered something that actually earns the word "collaboration."
The Better With Age x Vans collection launches May 20 via the brand's website, with the Dover Street Market London workshop taking place May 15.
