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Vans has apologized for any confusion surrounding its new “Vans and Fugazi” sneaker collaboration that led people to believe that the iconic band Fugazi were involved. Before the footwear company expressed its regret, Consequence caught up with Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty, who called the campaign “tone deaf.”
The since-deleted announcement of the “Vans and Fugazi” collab made many fans wonder whether the notoriously anti-consumerist post-hardcore legends had finally broken their policy of not selling merchandise.
Fugazi’s label, Dischord Records, co-founded by the band’s singer-guitarist Ian MacKaye, commented on Instagram, “I’m guessing someone from Vans will reach out to us,” while also adding, “We have nothing to do with this to be clear.”
It soon became apparent that the Fugazi in question was a luxury streetwear brand based in Los Angeles that had nothing to do with the band.
Steve Van Doren, VP of marketing and events for Vans, said in an Instagram post, “Sorry for any confusion this Past week. Fugazi the Band and Fugazi the clothing Brand are not connected. 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.”
Prior to Van Doren’s apology, Canty told Consequence, as seen in the video above, “There’s this fucking horrendous fashion company called Fugazi that’s been around for years, I guess. I noticed them up in New York at one point, where I’m like, ‘Hey, that’s called Fugazi,’ and they have a red awning and stuff.”
He continued, “Now, there has been Fugazis throughout time. There’s the Fugazi Travel Agent in San Francisco. There was Club Fugazi in San Francisco, which is actually mentioned in Allen Ginsberg’s Howl. So, there are things out there, clearly, and ultimately it was an acronym that meant ‘Fucked up, got ambushed, zipped in.’ It was a Vietnam War era acronym, but it was also a family name from this travel agent and the club in San Francisco. So, I mean, it’s been around. I don’t begrudge anybody using it.”
What ticked off Canty was the way the collab was presented, as he noted, “The fucking way that the guy held up the ‘Fugazi’ registered trademark, the guy from Vans, and the way that… he’s like, ‘Ha ha, we’ve got it’ … I couldn’t figure out why he was acting vindictively against us. It seemed like it was targeted towards us, and kind of fucking felt like a corporate fucking mule fuck is what it felt like… especially with Vans, like of course the Vans guys know who Fugazi is… it’s mystifying, and it just seems stupid for them to do something… I was hurt by it, honestly… I was like, “Why is Vans doing this?’ I thought they were kind of like on the side of the angels, you know? But I guess not.’
Canty concluded, “It’s so tone deaf… I’m confused by it and … it seems like people are equally confused by it out in the world, to the point where [they’re] confused and disgusted by it.”
Fugazi, meanwhile, recently released the recording sessions they had with the late Steve Albini for the In on the Kill Taker album, with all proceeds to go to Letters Charity, who offer aid to with families enduring poverty.
Stay tuned for more of our interview with Canty on the status of Fugazi’s ongoing hiatus, his scoring work on television and films, and more.
Watch our interview with Brendan Canty above, and see the apology from Vans below.
