Vans has quietly been building out the LX line as a way to revisit some of its most important models with better materials and construction. The silhouettes themselves stay the same, but the way they are built gets a lot more attention.
You start to notice it when you pick up a pair. The canvas is heavier. The foxing and sidewalls are cleaner. The interior is finished with better linings and Vans’ Sola Foam cushioning, which makes them noticeably more comfortable than the standard versions people are used to.
Most of the differences are small, but put them all together they make the shoes feel more considered. Vans has also been using the LX line to experiment with fabrics and textures that you do not usually see on the core models, introducing new concepts to iconic styles we love today.
Introducing the Authentic 44 Punk Check
The Authentic has always been one of the most straightforward shoes Vans makes, and the Authentic 44 EK “Punk Check” leans into that idea. A low profile upper, metal eyelets, and the classic waffle sole define the shape. The Punk Check version keeps that structure but changes the upper entirely.
Instead of a printed checkerboard, the pattern is created through a woven knit structure that forms the grid directly into the material. Up close the texture adds depth to the checker pattern and gives the shoe a different feel than the usual canvas versions.
For our first Vans LX release at Drift House, the Authentic 44 EK Punk Check arrives in three colors that highlight the texture of that woven pattern.
Available Thursday, 3/12 | in-store at 11AM, Online at 2PM EDT.
