Vans Taps Neighborhood for a Refined Suede Redux of Its Original Authentic 44 Sneaker

The brand’s original deck shoe gets a little help from a fan-favorite Japanese brand for this elevated reissue.

Vans

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By Sean Tirman

Published 1 hour ago

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Introduced as the #44 Deck Shoe, Vans’ Authentic is as old as the brand itself. And yet, it is still ever-evolving, thanks to constant attention and a bevy of collaborative efforts.

The latest in that endeavor is the Vans OTW x Neighborhood Authentic 44, which elevates and expands this legendary sneaker without losing its connection to its history as a counterculture icon.

Pair of black Vans low-top sneakers with suede upper and embossed text on the toe and sole. — The Authentic has always been one of Vans’ best minimalist shoes. This one isn’t quite so simple, but you need a keen eye to notice.

Anaheim meets Harajuku

While Vans and Neighborhood might seem like they come from completely different sides of the world, they share more in common than one might think. Despite the entire Pacific Ocean between them, Shinsuke Takizawa’s Neighborhood draws on the same American punk rock spirit that Vans helped cultivate.

As such, this collaboration makes perfect sense, not just in these two spiritually-aligned brands coming together, but in their choice of medium, the Authentic sneaker, and in how they’ve altered it.

Pair of black low-top sneakers with black laces, one showing the top and the other showing the gray patterned sole. — The classic waffle sole remains intact, but the upper gets a refined twist.

Rather than putting this sneaker through the wringer, the brands have taken heed of its significance, opting for subtlety. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t major changes; it just means you need a more trained eye to notice them.

That benefits this shoe and its wearer twofold. First, it means the sneaker’s soul remains entirely intact (at a glance, this is a classic Authentic through and through), but it also means there’s more appreciation to be had by anyone who can spot the changes.

Pair of black low-top sneakers with suede and leather details, viewed from the back. — Only the OTW logo on the back contrasts with the monochrome approach to this shoe.

Raw and refined

Typically, Authentics come with a canvas upper with fabric reinforcements. On this shoe, that has been completely upended, swapping the upper for premium suede and swapping the reinforcements for leather. (Although these are both materials that Vans has traded in many times throughout its history.)

To balance that significant alteration, the brands have opted for a monochrome colorway — either Black or Natural (white) — thus cranking up the subtlety therein. But that alone wouldn’t be enough for a proper Neighborhood collaboration.

Close-up of a black suede shoe with black rubber sole embossed with partial text. — The toebox and the foxing both feature embossing, courtesy of Neighborhood, which helps this sneaker stand out upon closer inspection.

As such, both the toebox and the foxing feature embossed phrasing referencing Neighborhood itself (i.e., “Craft with pride Tokyo EST. 1994”). There is also co-branding on the Sola Foam ADC (All-Day Comfort) insole.

Overall, the structure and silhouette remain. In fact, even the classic vulcanized outsole with its waffle pattern is intact, thus marking another solid overall addition to the shoe’s increasingly robust catalog.

Black Vans suede sneakers with black laces resting on a black tire against a dark background. — Vans and Neighborhood’s styles, both inspired by American subculture, blend beautifully in this refined shoe.

Availability and pricing

The Vans OTW x Neighborhood Authentic 44 is now available in Black or Natural (white) for $120 per pair.

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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