Sale of Vans sneakers with local flavor to benefit comics

Being put out of work by COVID-19 is no laughing matter.

But the Fairfield Comedy Club is teaming up with active footwear maker Vans and Haitian-born modern artist Guy Stanley Philoche to create a limited edition product that will be sold to benefit comedians who have been sidelined because of the pandemic.

The club will work with Vans to produce up to 1,000 pairs of custom shoes adorned with the comedy club’s logo.

The Classic Slip-On Vans, designed by Philoche, will feature his rEVOLution symbol, which is aimed at initiating social change, alongside his signature paper airplane. The airplane on the shoe will be adorned with the Fairfield Comedy Club logo.

Philoche will sign the shoes for consumers upon request. The shoes will go on sale at noon on March 9.

The limited edition shoes are being developed as part of the Vans “Foot The Bill” initiative, which was created to help small businesses across the country. Each small business selected to participate designs their own Vans shoe and T-shirt to be offered for sale on the footwear company’s web site.

Joe Gerics, co-founder of the comedy club, said being selected to participate in the initiative “is such an honor.”

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had to cancel all regular shows in mid-March last year and haven’t been fully operational since,” Gerics said. “As a venue that brings in up to 150 comics each year to perform, we want to do our part and be able to give back some of the earnings they’ve missed out on over the past year.”

Gerics will determine which comics get the money from the fundraising initiatives. The Fairfield Comedy Club is the first Connecticut and New England-based business Vans has selected to participate in the Foot The Bill initiative.

Philoche, who now lives in New York, said he relates to comics’ anxieties about being out of work.

“Being an artist isn’t an easy journey,” he said in a statement. “I know what it’s like to struggle and I want to do my part to help those who need it. If the proceeds of these shoes can help the comedic industry and those who have been out of work, I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Stand-up comic Leah Bonnema, a proud owner of the Star Wars collection Vans, said the shoe company’s “collaboration with Fairfield Comedy will make a difference for many artists.”

“I’m so very grateful and excited about it,” Bonnema said. “Thank you Vans and Fairfield Comedy for making my feet and my heart happy.”

Contributed photo Fairfield Comedy Club is teaming up with active footwear maker Vans and Haitian-born modern artist Guy Stanley Philoche to create a limited edition product that will be sold to benefit comedians who have been sidelined because of the pandemic.