Vans Exec Apologizes for Confusion Over Fugazi Collaboration

An executive at the sneaker company Vans has issued an apology after a collaboration with the streetwear brand Fugazi was confused for a collaboration with the legendary — and legendarily anti-consumerist — punk band, Fugazi. 

The bizarre mix-up dates back to late June when Fugazi, the clothing brand, announced their new collaboration with Vans on Instagram. Despite the fact that the account clearly belonged to Fugazi the brand, there was enough confusion that Dischord Records, the indie label co-founded by Fugazi’s Ian MacKaye, jumped into the comments to clarify, “We have nothing to do with this to be clear.”

Eventually, Steve Van Doren, VP of marketing and events for Vans (and son of the company’s co-founder, Paul Van Doren), issued an apology, writing on Instagram, “Sorry for for any confusion this Past week. Fugazi the Band and Fugazi the clothing Brand are not connected.”

He continued, “I have deep respect for Ian MacKaye, his impact on music and his connection to Skateboarding. We spoke this morning and are looking at ways to support longtime skateboarders and giving back to the communities we both care deeply about.”

Band/brand collaborations are, of course, par for the course these days, even in the punk world. But it would’ve been an absolutely head-scratching about-face had Fugazi, of all bands, decided to suddenly pop up with a branded skate shoe. The D.C. group famously sold no merch at all, both a reflection of their anti-consumerist ideals, as well as their strict and stripped-down DIY ethics and outlook.

Fugazi even wrote a song called “Merchandise,” which contained the verse, “Merchandise, it keeps us in line/Common sense says it’s by design/What could a businessman ever want more/Than to have us sucking in his store?” That was followed by the refrain, “You are not what you own/You are not what you own.” 

MacKaye, for his part, succinctly explained his decision to not sell Fugazi merch in a 2013 interview: “We are a band and we play music. That was our idea, the rest of it is just this carnival surrounding the music business.”