Some shoes get called iconic. Vans earned it. When Paul Van Doren opened his first store i... Read more
Some shoes get called iconic. Vans earned it. When Paul Van Doren opened his first store in Anaheim, California in 1966, customers would walk in, pick their style, and come back that afternoon to collect a pair made just for them. It was a simple idea, done properly, and it set the tone for everything that followed.
Skaters found the sticky rubber soles and flat vulcanised construction gave them grip and boardfeel that nothing else on the market could match. The brand didn't chase them. They came naturally, and Vans grew alongside the culture. The Era, co-designed with skating legends Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta in 1976. The Old Skool a year later, with its now-unmistakable sidestripe that started as a doodle by Paul Van Doren himself. The Classic Slip-On. The Sk8-Hi. Each one a silhouette that has outlasted every trend thrown at it.
Nearly six decades on, those same shoes are still bestsellers. Worn by skaters, surfers, musicians, artists and anyone who appreciates footwear that doesn't need to try too hard.
Some shoes get called iconic. Vans earned it. When Paul Van Doren opened his first store in Anaheim, California in 1966, customers would walk in, pick their style, and come back that afternoon to collect a pair made just for them. It was a simple ide... Read more