Our first stop on the 2011 Vans Warped Tour was an interview with fashion designer, Jac Vanek. She started out making bracelets, and her line now includes shirts, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Jac has collaborated with people from All Time Low, Cobra Starship, The Academy Is, Miley Cyrus and many more. Working with organizations like Peeta2, Invisible Children, NOH8, and Open Our Eyes proves that her heart is in it as well. We consider ourselves huge fans of her unique designs and ambitious spirit. We were very grateful for the opportunity to speak with her.
How many times have you gone out with Warped Tour?
This is my fourth official full-length tour; I did it once when I got out of high school.
Who has been your favorite band that you have gotten to tour with?
Jacks Mannequin was on two weeks of the tour I think two years ago. Andrew McMahon is like the love of my life. Something Corporate was the band that made me fall in love with music.
If you could have one band tour with you on Warped Tour who hasn’t yet, who would it be?
That could fit onto the Warped Tour bill? I would say Something Corporate. Out of anyone though I would say Mumford and Sons. Totally different genre but it would be cool.
Are there any trends you see at Warped Tour that you wish you wouldn’t have to see anymore?
I guess there are some girls that wear skimpy clothes that shouldn’t be wearing skimpy clothes. I don’t understand really. You aren’t at a pool so why are you wearing a swimsuit top and bottom? It’s like put on some shorts or something.
Would you say you get your inspiration more from music or other fashion?
I feel like it’s a combination of everything. I mean obviously my life is fueled by music, I can’t deny that. So a lot of it is music based, but you know I take in inspiration from everything. I’m a big book reader, I watch movies, I’m very into quotes, everything pop culture. I like to mix it up and put it out there in a different way. I feel like I already have this automatic connection with customers. They’ll come up and be like “I read Perks of Being A Wallflower because I bought your Infinite bracelet.” So that’s really cool.
Is there any stand out Warped Tour memories for you?
Two years ago we rode with this band called Scary Kids Scaring Kids and they were literally the craziest group of people I have met in my entire life. Every night we would be scared to come on the bus because we didn’t know what the hell was going on. We had a border crossing and one of the guys that was with us got detained because he had the same name and birth date, as a murderer in Canada, so they thought it was him. They threw him up against the bus and hand cuffed him. We were like “What the Hell is going on?!” You see him walk out like an hour later chattin’ with the cops, just shootin’ the shit with them, that was pretty crazy.
Do all the cities you travel to tend to blend together or can you notice a big difference between them?
We’re basically in a grass field or a parking lot everyday. We don’t usually get to see many of the cities, which sucks. I’ve traveled the country four times but I haven’t seen much, sometimes we get days off to experience the city but that’s it.
What was your favorite city to travel to?
Long Island is our best tour wise. The kids are obsessed with Jac Vanek stuff. I don’t know what it is because I’m from California. It’s always mind blowing to me. We were at The Gorge yesterday and that venue is breathtaking. It’s the most beautiful thing in the world. You feel like you are outside of Warped Tour for a second.
Now to test your Northwest Knowledge. Do you know what the Capitol of Oregon is?
Is it Portland?
It’s actually Salem.
Oh I would never know that.
Oregon is home to the largest cheese factory in the world, do you know the name of that Factory
Nicole Buckley: “No, but I love cheese!”
Jac: “Kraft? Is that even cheese?”
Have you heard of Tillamook Cheese?
Oh I’ve heard of that, that’s the ice cream brand.
Can you name two movies that were filmed here?
You guys are trying real hard to make Oregon sound cool haha.
Have you ever seen The Goonies?
The Goonies was filmed here?! That is one of my all time favorite movies!
The First Twilight movie was also filmed here.
Ehhh…
Finally, can you name three words that rhyme with Oregon?
Organ, Schmorgan, Torgan. I don’t think any of those things are actually words.
To see more of Jac Vanek’s pieces visit www.jacvanek.com