Vans

Vans is a North American manufacturer focused on footwear and apparel for action sports. Founded on March 16th, 1966 by brothers Paul Van Doren and Jim Van Doren (alongside partners Gordon Lee and Serge Delia), the company first opened its doors at 704 E. Broadway in Anaheim, Calif. as the Van Doren Rubber Company.

Over the last 55 years, the brand has gone from a Southern California gem to a globally-recognized force in shoes. Its humble origins include a same-day, custom shoe-making process, which differentiated it from other footwear companies at the time. A direct-to-consumer strategy allowed for competitive pricing, as well as the reputation for one-of-a-kind shoes.

In the early 1970s, the Van Doren Brothers gained a larger consumer base than before thanks to skateboarders taking a liking to the Style #44 deck shoe, better known as the Vans Authentic. Its rugged makeup and sticky sole proved beneficial to the droves of skaters throughout SoCal. (Legend has it the shoe's durable build quality was inspired by the M4 Sherman tank.) The Vans Era (originally known as the Style #95) joined the brand's lineup in 1976, introducing a padded collar and different color combinations; it was designed by Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, two legends within the skateboarding world. That same year, Vans' iconic “OFF THE WALL” logo debuts, appearing as a license plate at the heel.

Throughout the years, the California-institution has captured the loyalty of countless individuals with classic models like the Vans Old Skool (Style #36) and Vans Slip-On (Style #98), both released in 1977. The former introduced the “jazz stripe” logo, while the latter was featured on Sean Penn's character in the 1982 film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” in its signature Checkerboard pattern. After the release of the movie, the Slip-On became a go-to style for people all over the world. The Vans Sk8-Hi of 1978 and Vans Steve Caballero of 1988 (a signature shoe) further cemented the brand as a force to be reckoned within the skate community.

Despite still focusing on skateboarding, BMX and other action sports, the West Coast company has garnered notable attention among streetwear enthusiasts. High-profile collaborations with PATTA, Notre, BLENDS and Supreme have seamlessly blended sport and style, a core mission to the Vault By Vans category. Anderson .Paak, “The Simpsons” and Ronnie Fieg's KITH are also among the brand's collaborators. Collections with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Damien Hirst have also become collectible, while expanding the company's audience.

Vans shoes continue being among the most affordable brand-name styles on the market, with adult sizing of popular models ranging from $50 USD (Slip-On) to $70 USD (Sk8-Hi).

Shopping Links

Vans

Dime Helps Vans Skateboarding Reintroduce The Rowley XLT

Montreal’s Dime is something of a free agent, having collaborated with adidas, ASICS, and now Vans all within the same year. This time around, Dime...

By Michael Le September 23, 2023
8469

Building Black Bed-Stuy Champions Black Liberation With Vans Authentic Project

Founded in 2020, Building Black Bed-Stuy has one mission: “To protect and preserve the black community in Bed Stuy and beyond by providing financial relief...

By Jovani Hernandez September 18, 2023
2263

AAPE By A Bathing Ape Brings Camo Patterns To The Vans Bolt Collection

Two iconic institutions on opposite coasts of the Pacific have convened in the AAPE by A Bathing Ape x Vans collection, bringing the signature Ape...

By Sneaker News September 8, 2023
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Concepts And Vans Vault Launch “Smoke And Mirrors” Collection On September 8th

Concepts and Vans are no strangers to one another, having worked on 15 different projects over the last 27 years. As Fall 2023 approaches, the...

By Jovani Hernandez September 7, 2023
7863

Want To Look Like You Skate? Vault By Vans Has You Covered

Quiet luxury has taken new heights in 2023, as the wealthy have begun to dress themselves in more simple, albeit still exorbitantly expensive pieces. And...

By Michael Le September 4, 2023
4194

Goodfight And Vault By Vans Rework The Mary Jane-Inspired Style 93 LX

The culmination of countless years experience working in and around fashion, LA-based menswear label Goodfight originally began their journey back in 2017. And while the...

By Michael Le August 23, 2023
1558

Advisory Board Crystals’ Debut Vans Collaboration Isn’t For Everyone – And That’s Okay

Founded in 2015, Advisory Board Crystals is young relative to some of its collaborators – which include Swarovski (1895), Longchamp (1948), and Moncler (1952). Yet, the...

By Jovani Hernandez August 17, 2023
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Advisory Board Crystals To Debut The VANS EVDNT EXT ULTI “Miracle Conditions” On August 17th

Updated August 16th, 2023: The raffle is now live here. — Based in Los Angeles, Advisory Board Crystals has been “thinking critically” since 2015. Widely-known...

By Jovani Hernandez August 14, 2023
5967

Vans Teams Up With The Mac Miller Estate To Celebrate The 5-Year Anniversary Of Swimming

Today, August 3rd, marks the five-year anniversary of Mac Miller’s fifth studio album: “Swimming.” To celebrate the occasion — as well as the life and...

By Michael Le August 3, 2023
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