Vans Brings Ray Barbee And Leica Together For The Three-Part “Capturing The Journey” Collection

Based and built in Germany, utilizing the full extent of the country’s advanced engineering, the Leica brand is the utmost pinnacle of photography. Popularized by some of the greatest photographers Pack to man, the company’s products — such as the Leica M series as well as the much newer digital point-and-shoots like the Leica Q — have quickly become a “grail” for hobbyists and professionals alike.

Having used a Leica M for many years, Vans athlete Ray Barbee knows their quality well. And to bring at least some of that feeling to the greater public — even to those who may know nothing of the red dot — the skater is taking the lead on the new “Capturing the Journey” collection, which sees the three working together on footwear, apparel, and a customized D-Lux 7.

Like the cameras themselves, the footwear, which spans a total of four different silhouettes, are conceptually simple but well-refined. Each celebrates Barbee’s career through a ’90s lens, applying a palette of light blue, brown, red, and teal to the Slip-On, Sk8-Hi, Authentic, and Old Skool, respectively. What’s more, the shoes further honor the legacy of Leica with a set of red eyelets and a embroidered honor — “Ich entscheide hiermit: es wird riskiert,” (“I herby decide: the risk shall be taken”) — the latter of which dates back to the institution’s very first camera.

Arriving alongside apparel, which riffs on Barbee’s day-to-day favorites, the above shoes are starting to make their way to The now. The checkerboard-accented D-LUX 7, however, will only be making its way to select Leica stores.

Vans Authentic EU 39 Black Gum @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.