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

The Vans Vault x Palm Angels Collaborative Collection Releases Tomorrow

Documenting LA’s vibrant skate culture since 2011, Palm Angels founder Francesco Ragazzi has centered his brand around capturing an Italian take on American skate culture...

By Jared Ebanks September 26, 2022
4767

Thrasher’s Fiery Logos Embolden Their Latest Collaboration With Vans

Since 1981, Thrasher has reigned as the skateboarding ecosystems premier magazine, undoubtedly tied to the heritage and roots of the action sport and its evolution...

By Jared Ebanks September 18, 2022
3605

Slam Jam Teases Upcoming Vans Sk8-Hi Collaboration

Slam Jam and Vans aren’t strangers to one another, but their partnership hasn’t produced too many joint-efforts over the last decade. That’s set to change...

By Jovani Hernandez September 13, 2022
3378

Dime Celebrates 30 Years Of The Vans Skate Half Cab ‘92

Steven Caballero’s Vans Half Cab is a “do-it-yourself” project gone official as it joined the original action sports brand’s lineup of products in 1992. To...

By Jovani Hernandez September 12, 2022
5598

Secretly Canadian Further Fights Homelessness With Vans Sk8-Hi Collaboration

As the original action sports brand, Vans has been in the thick of “it” for decades. Recently, the California-institution teamed up with Secretly Canadian, a...

By Jovani Hernandez August 30, 2022
1773

Frog Skateboards Revisits The Vans Old Skool In Two New Colorways

Holding less than a handful of collaborations since their divulgence into the realm of sneakers with the playful Nike Blazer Mid in 2019, Frog Skateboards...

By Jared Ebanks August 27, 2022
1354

Wacko Maria Dresses The Vans Authentic In Their Signature Leopard Print

Despite being lesser known relative to the likes of sacai and UNDERCOVER, Wacko Maria has been fortunate to receive a few footwear collaborations over the...

By Michael Le August 23, 2022
860

Vans Braces For The Last Season Of Stranger Things With Collaborative Capsule

Stranger Things was a breakout hit upon its premiere in 2016. And thanks to this success, the franchise had the opportunity of working with Nike...

By Michael Le August 18, 2022
7938

Bianca Chandôn Covers Its Vault By Vans Collection In “Aged” Detailing

Over the course of its history, the Vault by Vans team has collaborated with dozens of strategic and creative partners to produce future-thinking footwear rooted...

By Jovani Hernandez August 15, 2022
4078