Vans

Vans began in 1966 as The Van Doren Rubber Company in Anaheim, California, opened by brothers Paul and Jim Van Doeren and their partners. The twist was selling shoes straight to the public after making them. Among the first were the #44 deck shoes, still sold as the Authentic. Skateboarders around Southern California took to the sticky sole, and in 1975 the #95, now called the Era, added a padded collar and came in different colours. The Old Skool, Slip-Ons and other shapes followed. Vans has stayed relevant through close ties with subcultures and comfortable shoes, plus its Warped Tour rock festival and collaborations with Supreme.