Vans

Vans was founded on March 16, 1966, by Paul Van Doren, his brother James, and partners Gordon Lee and Serge Delia in Anaheim, California, as The Van Doren Rubber Company. What set Vans apart from day one was its direct-to-consumer model: shoes were manufactured on-site and sold directly to customers in the same building. On the first morning, 12 customers came in and ordered shoes, which were ready for pickup by the afternoon — a model of speed and customisation unheard of at the time. The iconic #44 deck shoe, later renamed the Authentic, became the brand's foundation.

Vans became inseparable from skateboarding culture in the 1970s when Southern California skateboarders — including the legendary Z-Boys of Dogtown — adopted the grippy vulcanized waffle sole for its superior board feel. The Old Skool (1977), with its now-iconic jazz stripe, and the Sk8-Hi (1978), which added ankle protection, were both designed with direct input from skaters. The Slip-On surged in popularity after appearing in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, worn by Sean Penn's character Jeff Spicoli. Through the 1980s and 1990s, Vans became the unofficial uniform of punk, hardcore, and alternative subcultures, sponsoring the Warped Tour and embedding itself in music, art, and action sports.

Today Vans operates as a subsidiary of VF Corporation and is one of the most recognized lifestyle brands in the world. While skateboarding remains its soul, the brand's checkerboard Slip-Ons and Old Skools are worn by everyone from toddlers to fashion influencers. Collaborations with Fear of God, Supreme, Disney, and the Museum of Modern Art showcase its cultural breadth. The House of Vans events — combining skateboarding, music, and art — and the brand's Vans Park Series professional skateboarding contest reflect a commitment to the creative communities that built the brand.