Brand Story
Started as the Van Doren Rubber Company in Anaheim. The waffle sole became inseparable from skate, surf, and BMX culture.
Timeline
- 1966
Van Doren Rubber Company opens in Anaheim
Paul Van Doren, brother Jim, and partners James Van Doren and Serge D'Elia open the first store at 704 East Broadway, Anaheim, California.
- 1976
Era model designed with Tony Alva
Skater Tony Alva helps design the padded-collar Era model — pivotal moment for skate-shoe culture.
- 1977
Old Skool launches
First Vans shoe with the iconic side jazz stripe. Designed by Paul Van Doren in a single afternoon as a doodle.
- 1982
Sean Penn wears Vans in Fast Times
Spicoli's checkerboard slip-ons make Vans a household name in American pop culture.
- 2004
Vans Warped Tour at peak
Punk-rock summer tour, sponsored by Vans since 1995, hits its commercial high — cementing the brand's youth-music identity.
- 2004
Acquired by VF Corporation
VF Corp acquires Vans for $396M, eventually scaling it into a $4B-revenue brand.
