Vans
Encyclopedia
Vans is an American
based manufacturer of sneakers, skateboarding shoes, BMX shoes, snowboarding boots and other shoe types.
, brothers Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, and three other partners opened up their first store. The Van Doren Rubber Company was unique in that it manufactured shoes and sold them directly to the public. On that first morning, 12 customers purchased Vans deck shoes, which are now known as Authentic. The shoes made that day were ready for pick-up in the afternoon.
The company continued to grow into the 1970s. During this period they also produced wool lined canvas and rubber mukluks under contract to the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force.
Skateboarders who liked Vans rugged make-up and sticky sole were 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 color combinations the Era became the shoe of choice for a generation of skateboarders. In 1966, Vans introduced 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 sold through dealers both nationally and internationally.
As the 1980s rolled around, Paul Van Doren began to take a lesser role in the company’s activities. Over this period, Vans started to create shoes for a number of sports from skateboarding, wakeboarding, motor cross, to surfing 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 its debt they were forced to file for bankruptcy in 1983.
After three years, Vans had paid back all creditors and emerged from bankruptcy. In 1988 Vans original owners sold the company to an investment banking firm. The company has been sold several times since; most recently for $396 million in 2004 to Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corp. Steve Van Doren, the son of co-founder Paul Van Doren, is still with the company, as is his sister Cheryl and his daughter Kristy. Vans closed their Orange, California
factory and began manufacturing footwear overseas in 1994.
In 1994, Vans sponsored the Inaugural Triple Crown series which developed into the Vans Triple Crown series. In 1998, Vans opened a 46000 square feet (4,273.5 m²), indoor-outdoor Vans Skate park at the Block in Orange County
and in 2002 an enclosed skatepark was opened in the Festival Bay Mall
on International Drive
in Orlando, Florida
. In 2000 and 2001, Forbes
recognized Vans as one of "America’s Best Small Companies." In 2004, Vans launched the Vans Customs on their website. This allowed customers to log onto the Vans website and design their own pair of Vans Slip-ons, mid-cuts, or high-tops. Nowadays, it allows for the design of custom Era, Slip-On, Old Skool, and 106 Vulcanized shoes.
Vans has been the primary sponsor of the Warped Tour
music festival since 1995. It also holds the naming rights to BOWL-A-RAMA Bondi, Sydney, Australia, and not San Luis Obispo, CA.
CDs showcasing various artists and genres of music.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
based manufacturer of sneakers, skateboarding shoes, BMX shoes, snowboarding boots and other shoe types.
History
On March 16, 1966, at 704 E. Broadway, in Anaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, brothers Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, and three other partners opened up their first store. The Van Doren Rubber Company was unique in that it manufactured shoes and sold them directly to the public. On that first morning, 12 customers purchased Vans deck shoes, which are now known as Authentic. The shoes made that day were ready for pick-up in the afternoon.
The company continued to grow into the 1970s. During this period they also produced wool lined canvas and rubber mukluks under contract to the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force.
Skateboarders who liked Vans rugged make-up and sticky sole were 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 color combinations the Era became the shoe of choice for a generation of skateboarders. In 1966, Vans introduced 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 sold through dealers both nationally and internationally.
As the 1980s rolled around, Paul Van Doren began to take a lesser role in the company’s activities. Over this period, Vans started to create shoes for a number of sports from skateboarding, wakeboarding, motor cross, to surfing 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
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by Cameron Crowe and adapted from his 1981 book of the same name...
. 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 its debt they were forced to file for bankruptcy in 1983.
After three years, Vans had paid back all creditors and emerged from bankruptcy. In 1988 Vans original owners sold the company to an investment banking firm. The company has been sold several times since; most recently for $396 million in 2004 to Greensboro, N.C.-based VF Corp. Steve Van Doren, the son of co-founder Paul Van Doren, is still with the company, as is his sister Cheryl and his daughter Kristy. Vans closed their Orange, California
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
factory and began manufacturing footwear overseas in 1994.
In 1994, Vans sponsored the Inaugural Triple Crown series which developed into the Vans Triple Crown series. In 1998, Vans opened a 46000 square feet (4,273.5 m²), indoor-outdoor Vans Skate park at the Block in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
and in 2002 an enclosed skatepark was opened in the Festival Bay Mall
Festival Bay Mall
Festival Bay Mall is an enclosed shopping mall located on International Drive in Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened in 2002 as a property of the Belz Factory Outlets, it is owned by FB Orlando Acquisition Company, LLC and managed by Paragon Outlet Partners LLC. The mall is in size with Bass...
on International Drive
International Drive
International Drive is the main tourist strip of Orlando, Florida, located several miles southwest of proper Downtown Orlando in the southernmost limits of the city...
in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. In 2000 and 2001, Forbes
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
recognized Vans as one of "America’s Best Small Companies." In 2004, Vans launched the Vans Customs on their website. This allowed customers to log onto the Vans website and design their own pair of Vans Slip-ons, mid-cuts, or high-tops. Nowadays, it allows for the design of custom Era, Slip-On, Old Skool, and 106 Vulcanized shoes.
Vans has been the primary sponsor of the Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
music festival since 1995. It also holds the naming rights to BOWL-A-RAMA Bondi, Sydney, Australia, and not San Luis Obispo, CA.
Off The Wall CD Samplers
Vans has, throughout the years, released a series of CompilationCompilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
CDs showcasing various artists and genres of music.
| Year | Title | Catalog # |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Vans Off The Wall Sampler, Vol. 1 | 86541-2 |
| 1999 | Vans Off The Wall Sampler, Vol. 2 | 86566-2 |
| 2000 | Vans Off The Wall Sampler, Vol. 3 | 86592-2 |
| 2001 | Vans Off The Wall Sampler, Vol. 4 | |
| 2002 | Vans Off The Wall Sampler, Vol. 5 | |
| 2003 | Vans Off The Wall Sampler, Vol. 6 | |
| 2004 | Vans Off The Wall Sampler, Vol. 7 | |
| 2005 | Vans Off The Wall Sampler, Vol. 8 | |
| 2006 | Vans Off The Wall Sampler, Vol. 9 |