ODDBALL

presents: The History of 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 as it was known then was unique in that it manufactured shoes and sold them directly to th...e public as they were made on-site. On that first morning, 12 customers came in and picked out shoes that were on display and they were made that day and ready for pick-up in the afternoon. Talk about customize fit! The Vans #44 deck shoes were the biggest seller in the early days, and it is now known as the Authentic. With a large following of surfers and valley hodads sporting Vans, the iconic image became a must-have in the California beach scene.
By the early 1970s, skateboarders who preferred Vans rugged make-up and sticky sole were seen sporting Vans all over Southern California. In 1975, the Vans #95, known today as the Era, was designed by popular skaters and “Dogtown and Z-Boys” members Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. With a padded collar and different color combinations the Era becomes the shoe of choice for a generation of skateboarders.
In 1979, Vans introduce the #44 shoe, the Vans Slip-On, and with the help of skateboarders and BMX riders it too became all the rage in Southern California. It caught nationwide attention in the 1982 film, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” when a young Sean Penn wore them as his signature shoe as the surf-stoked Jeff Spicoli. With Penn’s role and Spicoli’s lengendary status, the Vans Slip-On became the shoe to have by the mid-80s.
So get a pair of Authentics or Slip-Ons today, and join the already legendary status and style that have become Vans!Read More