VANS

On March 16th, 1966, at street 704E Broadway, in Anaheim, California, Paul Van Doren and three partners opened up their first ever store and the Vans dream was born. The Van Doren Rubber Company was unique in that it manufactures shoes and sells them directly to the public. On that first morning, 12 customers purchase shoes which are made that day and ready for pick-up in the afternoon. The Vans #44 deck shoes, which is now known as the Authentic were born.

Skateboarders who like Vans rugged make-up and sticky sole are seen sporting Vans all over Southern California in the early 1970s. In 1975, the Vans #95, known today as the Era was designed by Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. With a padded collar and different colour combinations the Era becomes the shoe of choice for a generation of skateboarders.

In 1979, Vans introduce the #44 shoe, and with the help of skateboarders and BMX riders the Vans Slip-On became all the rage in Southern California. By the end of the 1970s, Vans had 70 stores in California and sells through dealers both nationally and internationally.

As the 1980s rolled around, Paul Van Doren began to take a lesser role in the companies’ activities. Over this period, Vans started to create shoes for a number of sports from baseball, basketball and wrestling to skydiving in an effort to compete with large athletic shoe companies.

Vans Slip-Ons gained international attention and appeal when they were worn by Sean Penn in the 1982, iconic youth film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Although Vans core shoes were selling well, the wide range of products that the company now offered had drained the companies resources, and with Vans not able to overcome it’s debt they were forced to file for bankruptcy in 1983.