Dischord Records, home of seminal post-hardcore band Fugazi and founded by their singer-guitarist Ian MacKaye, has responded to an Instagram post by Vans promoting a “Vans and Fugazi” collaboration.
“I’m guessing someone from Vans will reach out to us,” the comment read, ending with an eye-roll emoji.
The Fugazi in question turns out to be a luxury streetwear brand with storefronts in Los Angeles, New York, and London.
“We have nothing to do with this to be clear,” the record label further commented on Instagram.
The band Fugazi famously produced no shirts, posters, or other merchandise during or after their active years, citing an anti-consumerist ethical stance as the basis for their opposition to the enterprise. The band even famously once tracked down a bootlegger and, after a series of phone calls, convinced him to donate a portion of his profits to a local community charity to be more in line with the band’s ideals.
The streetwear company Fugazi, meanwhile, was profiled in NSS magazine as follows: “Fugazi’s success is not just about its products. The brand stands out for its narrative approach and commitment to the community… Each collection is accompanied by reflections on themes of authenticity, illusion, and resistance.”
Leading to more confusion is the fact that Vans has been rooted in punk and skate culture for decades. Their name is even on the long-running punk festival Vans Warped Tour.
Fugazi the band recently released the long-shelved Steve Albini mix of their iconic 1993 album In on the Kill Taker on Bandcamp, with proceeds going to charity in honor of the late punk icon’s passing.
See the Instagram post by Vans below.
