LA-based label Gallery Dept. has teamed up with Vault by Vans to reimagine the Rowley XLT, a silhouette first introduced in 2001 as the signature shoe of longtime Vans team skater, Geoff Rowley. The project pays homage to ’90s and early ’00s skate culture and is in line with Gallery Dept. founder Josué Thomas’ penchant for recontextualizing vintage clothing and art.
“As trends shift back to the skate culture of the ‘90s, the Rowley XLT defines itself as a new classic for today, with a tested 20 years in the books,” says Josué Thomas. “Not only does the Rowley XLT LX complement the spirit of Gallery Dept., it captures an era we believe will always be timeless.”
In the spirit of the chunky skate shoes from decades past, Gallery Dept. has modified the OG Rowley, giving it a puffier tongue, shorter vamp, and bulkier ankle collar. The shoe comes in five colorways that pay homage to classic Dunks. The “Blue Steel” is reminiscent of the CO.JP “Samba” Dunk Low from 2001. The “Neapolitan” colorway has Stüssy Cherry vibes, while the “Multi” rearranges the colors found on the “Viotech” Dunk. The “Flame” colorway comes in black with flame graphics on the side panels, similar to a kids-exclusive Dunk that released in 2004, though it also features a zebra-print Sidestripe and an embroidered heel graphic of Gallery Dept.’s tagline “Art That Kills.” The fifth colorway comes in white with giraffe print overlays and orange accents.
All five colorways of the Gallery Dept. x Vans Rowley XLT LX will be available on Friday, November 10th on gallerydept.com. The “Blue Steel” and “Neapolitan” colorways will also see a global release on November 11th via vans.com and select Vault by Vans retailers. The “Giraffe” colorway will also release via Vans China on 11/11 in celebration of Singles Day. Check out the collection below.
Gallery Dept. x Vans Rowley XLT LX “Blue Steel”
Release Date: November 10, 2023 (Gallery Dept.)
Release Date: November 11, 2023 (Global)
Price: $145 USD
Gallery Dept. x Vans Rowley XLT LX “Neapolitan”
Release Date: November 10, 2023 (Gallery Dept.)
Release Date: November 11, 2023 (Global)
Price: $145 USD
Gallery Dept. x Vans Rowley XLT LX “Multi”
Release Date: November 10, 2023 (Gallery Dept.)
Price: $145 USD
Gallery Dept. x Vans Rowley XLT LX “Flame”
Release Date: November 10, 2023 (Gallery Dept.)
Price: $145 USD
Gallery Dept. x Vans Rowley XLT LX “Giraffe”
Release Date: November 10, 2023 (Gallery Dept.)
Release Date: November 11, 2023 (Vans China)
Price: $145 USD
