In the early 1960s Paul Van Doren worked on the American East Coast manufacturing shoes. Not content with this, Van Doren developed the idea of manufacturing shoes and selling them direct to the public. In 1966, Van Doren launched his first Vans shoe store in the Los Angeles suburb of Anaheim, approximately 20 miles inland from Huntington Beach, offering 3 styles of Vans shoes. Vans shoes sold like hot cakes and in the first year Van Doren opened a new retail store almost every week. It was in these early days that the patented Vans waffle sole was created, with its diamond pattern and vertical lines.
Surfing & Skateboarding Ranges
In the early 1970s the skateboarding craze, an offshoot of the surfing culture, hit California. Skaters began asking Vans for new colours and patterns, and because of Vans flexibility it was able to produce the skate shoes they were asking for. Vans produced the Era, a red and blue skate shoe designed by skateboarding legends Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. Vans' close relationship with their buying public meant that they became the skateboard shoe of choice and many more skate shoe styles would follow, with the Vans slip-on introduced in 1979.
Street Wear Collection
The Vans footwear collection now features many styles of skateboarding trainers for men and ladies, ranging from the classic slip on, the sk8-hi, and the Era, to the high performance skateboard trainers worn by Vans sponsored skate professionals such as; Dustin Dollin (DD-66, No Skool), Geoff Rowley (Rowley Classic, Rowley XLT, Rowley XL3, Rowley Squares), Tony Trujillo (TNT, TNT 2), and Steve Caballero (Low Cab). They also produce a large range of skateboard and surf clothing, from T-Shirts and walkshorts to the new range of Vans boardshorts. Vans also have a range of surf sandals, which also feature the classic checkerboard design, and snowboard boots that have been very successful.
Sponsoring Pro Sports
Vans continue to support surfing and skateboarding from the roots to pro level, such as world famous riders Geoff Rowley (skate), Dustin Dollin (skate), Danny Wainright (skate), Shea Lopez (surf), and Jason 'Ratboy' Collins (surf). Vans also sponsor events such as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing in Hawaii, and the Vans Warped Tour. Since the late 90s Vans has also opened a chain of Vans skate parks such as the Orange Skatepark, and the Block.