About Vans
For Vans, it all started in 1966 when brothers Paul Van Doren and Jim Van Doren, along with Gordon C. Lee, opened their first store called Vans Doren Rubber Company, in Anaheim, California. In 1976, Vans released the Vans Era collection, which became the No. 1 choice for skateboarders. The “Off The Wall” logo, which Vans still maintains in its product designs today, also made its debut. The following year, the first skate shoes, known to everyone as the “Old Skool”, were released, while a little later the “Vans Classic Slip-Ons” came to become must-haves for skateboarders and BMX-lovers! The “Sk8-Hi” was introduced to us in 1978 following the basketball trend of the time, while in 1988 the first signed skate shoe was released, by Steve Caballero. Vans began creating a series with action sports, such as BMX, skateboarding, surfing, the “Vans Triple Crown Series”. Many athletes wearing Vans Snowboard Boots, won Olympic Medals, confirming the quality and performance of its shoes.
One of Vans' most characteristic collaborations is the one that took place in 2005 with Marc Jacobs who signed the “Vault by Vans” series, while a few years later the series was signed by Takashi Murakami. It has also collaborated with major bands such as Metallica and the Beatles and recently announced its collaboration with SZA as Artistic Director. In addition to shoes, it also released the first surf film “Get-N Classic, Vol.1”, as well as the first skater championship “Vans Park Series”. In 2015, it won the “Brand of the Year” award and in 2017, it made another major collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld. Vans' involvement with skating culture is also confirmed by the multiple skateparks that bear its signature, thus strengthening the community's passion for the sport and attracting people who want to join it.
