Vans first went on sale in 1966 in Anaheim, California. That first afternoon in mid-March, 12 customers purchased shoes from The Van Doren Rubber Company — which may have been something of a relief for brothers Paul and James Van Doren, who founded the company together with their friend Gordon Lee.
Numbered, Not Named
Vans had just three styles in their early years, which, unlike today’s styles, were numbered. The first one was the #44, the classic Vans deck shoe today known as the Authentic. It was followed by the #95, now called the Era, and the #36, sold today as the Slip-On.
For Skaters, By Skaters
The Era was the first skateboarding shoe designed by skaters. Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta were both founding members of the Zephyr Competition Skateboarding team, better known as the Z-Boys. The two made a few small design tweaks to that original style #44 shoe to make it better suited for skateboarding, and the #95 — the Era — was born.
The brand saw early adoption by skaters and surfers and soon became synonymous with casual, sporty, Southern California style. Today, the shoes are worn by skaters, surfers, musicians, artists, and anyone trying to catch that old-school cool vibe.
Above and Beyond Slip Ons
The company has gone on to sponsor skate events and music tours, and even works in numerous ways to support budding musicians and creatives as they pursue their passions.
Vans has continually expanded their products and now has hundreds of styles across every type of footwear. From sneakers to sandals to BMX boots, Vans does it all.
Not only has their shoe range expanded beyond belief, Vans now produces branded apparel and accessories. You can achieve the laid-back, California-cool look by pairing a classic pair of Old Skools with a Vans T-shirt and jeans.
