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

Vans Just Totally Reimagined Their Classic Half Cab With Vibram Soles

Even with sneaker brands willing to get experimental and subversive with their core series models, Vans has carved out a very specific niche in how...

By Matt Varga February 28, 2024
923

Vans Debuts “Clash The Wall” Silhouette With S.R. STUDIO. LA. CA.

Vans looks set to breathe new life into its “Off The Wall” tagline, creating a dedicated sub-brand called “OTW by Vans” focused on collaborations with...

By Andrew Rizzo February 27, 2024
612

END. Leverages The Textile Mastery Of NOMA t.d. For A Vans Capsule

It’s a sight to see when experts in their respective fields equally contribute to a unifying project. The results are always a thing of magic,...

By Sneaker News January 22, 2024
2754

Supreme Revisits The Vans Half Cab And Old Skool With Faux Fur

Supreme is set to close out 2023 with a special collection with VF Corporation-mate, Vans. Unveiled today, the latest between the New York City-institution and...

By Jovani Hernandez December 12, 2023
1634

The Gallery Dept. x Vans Rowley XLR Collection Releases On November 10th

Gallery Dept. has remained a frequent collaborator in the sneaker ecosystem, cohabitating with the likes of Vans and ASICS on a number of occasions. For...

By Jared Ebanks November 7, 2023
3457

18 East’s Vans Collaboration Is A Heartfelt Interpretation Of The OG Half Cab

18 East founder Antonio Ciongoli didn’t need to look far to find inspiration for his label’s first ever collaboration with Vans. More often than not,...

By Sneaker News October 18, 2023
1047

Advisory Board Crystals’ Mismatched Vans Sk8-Hi Is Available Now

Advisory Board Crystals‘ debut Vans project wasn’t for everyone. Co-founders Heather Haber and Remington Guest told in August, “We made a shoe for...

By Jovani Hernandez October 17, 2023
1783

Undefeated And Vans Revisit The U-Man On Latest Old Skool Collection

Updated October 12th, 2023: Undefeated has officially unveiled the full collection, which features “Grasshopper”, “Dark Shadow”, and “Blanc de Blanc” colorways. — Undefeated’s U-Man mascot,...

By Sneaker News October 11, 2023
3749

Vans Helps Disney Celebrate 100 Years With Collaborative Collection

Dating back to 2013, Vans and Disney have routinely collaborated for an extensive range of both footwear and products inspired the company’s fanciful amount of...

By Jared Ebanks October 2, 2023
30569