Last night, Paris enjoyed its Fete de la Musique, an annual music celebration when Parisians take to the streets, make music and dance. Music streamed out from nearly every cafe and bar, but one party in particular was a little bit louder than the rest: OTW by Vans’s celebration.
The skatewear brand returned to Men’s Fashion Week in Paris with a week-long program of events. (On Tuesday, there was an exhibition by legendary skate photographer and Vans Brand Curator Atiba Jefferson and the celebrations culminated with a party to fete the Vans skate park installation beneath the iconic Basilica de Sacré-Cœur.)
Perched on the picturesque hill of Montmartre, the OTW by Vans Checkered Future: Sacré Coeur installation marked a joint celebration of Go Skateboarding Day and Fête de la Musique. The event showcased a live skate exhibition by Vans Team Athletes such as Efran Danzig, a Vans skater who had skated Paris many times but never on an art installation at the foot of the Sacré-Cœur; “I’m kind of terrified,” she shared as she went off to skate on the installation that OTW by Vans had created in collaboration with PLAYLAB, INC and California Skateparks.
“It was absolutely a blast. Definitely like a dream to skate in front of Sacré-Cœur Basilica. I wouldn’t even think that’s possible, but Vans always does something way ahead of my imagination,” said skater Mami Tezuka as she left the ramp.
There were people as far as the eye could see down the hill. The event was open to the public, but on the guest list was a list of cool girls in Paris for all the festivities. Near the DJ booth, champagne bars were set up, and you could see Emily Ratajkowski catching up with singer/actor Moses. Elsewhere, models Paloma Elsesser and Devyn Garcia (both in town for Vogue World) danced. “I can’t believe we are seeing Justice right now!” Elsseser exclaimed. The music lineup rivaled a mini festival as it included performances by Kaytranada, Venus X, Busy P, and Tatyana Jane, and at around 10 PM, with the sun just setting on a summer night, the legendary Justice entered the DJ booth.
Around 11 PM, the crowd was heating up as singer Omar Apollo arrived with a group of friends. Technically, the night was meant to wrap up at midnight but the sun had really only recently set—the night was just getting started!