Vans – An “Off the Wall” History

1966              Paul Van Doren and three partners open first store at 704 E. Broadway in Anaheim, Calif. on March 16.  The Van Doren Rubber Company is unique in that it manufactures shoes and sells them directly to the public.

On that first morning, 12 customers purchase shoes which are made that day and ready for pick-up in the afternoon.

Vans #44 deck shoes, now known as the Authentic, are born.

Early 70s    Skateboarders who like Vans’ rugged make-up and sticky sole are seen sporting Vans all over Southern California

1976              The Vans #95, now known as the Era, with a padded collar and different color combinations, is designed by Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta and becomes the shoe of choice for a generation of skateboarders

Vans’ “Off the Wall” logo makes its debut

1978              Vans #36, the Old Skool, debuts with the now famous Vans Sidestripe.  The Sk8-Hi is also introduced.

1979              The Vans #98 is introduced and with the help of skateboarders and BMX riders, Vans Classic Slip-Ons become the rage in Southern California. By the end of the 70s, Vans has 70 stores in California and sells through dealers both nationally and internationally

1982              Vans Classic Slip-Ons gain international attention and appeal when they are worn by Sean Penn in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Early 80s    Paul Van Doren steps back to take a lesser role in company activities; Vans creates shoes for a number of sports from baseball, basketball and wrestling to even skydiving in an effort to compete with large athletic shoe companies

1984    Vans files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Although the core Vans shoes are selling well, the wide range of products that Vans offers have drained company resources and Vans is not able to overcome debt

Courts approve re-organization plan as Paul Van Doren returns as President; Paul tells all employees that they may not get a raise for three years and they will need to cut back on everything but the quality of Vans Shoes

1987    In three years, Vans has paid back all creditors 100 cents on the dollar and in December, Vans re-emerges from the $12 million debt and Chapter 11

1988              Vans’ original owners sell the company for $75  million to McCown DeLeeuw Co., an investment banking firm. With the new owner's financial backing, Vans expands and increases worldwide presence

1989              The Vans Steve Caballero, the first signature skate shoe, is introduced

1991    Vans makes initial public offering of stock at $14 on the NASDAQ stock exchange

1994    Vans begins manufacturing footwear overseas allowing for development of new shoe styles

1995    Vans sponsors the Warped Tour for the first time; In 2001 Vans will buy a controlling interest in what is now the Vans Warped Tour, the longest running concert series in America

Vans introduces the Vans snowboard boot line

1996              Vans sponsors the inaugural Triple Crown of Skateboarding event

1997              Vans begins creating the world’s leading action sports series with the purchase of the Triple Crown of Surfing; by 2000 the Vans Triple Crown Series will include events in skateboarding, BMX, surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, freestyle motocross and supercross.  The Series is broadcast on ESPN2.

1998              Vans opens first of its kind, 46,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor Vans Skatepark at the Block at Orange mall in Orange County.   The stage is set more than a thousand of skate parks to be built around the country in the next eight years.

Daniel Franck wins Olympic Silver Medal in Vans snowboard boots at the Nagano Games

1999    Vans.com and shop.vans.com are launched.  Vans.com now ranks as the number one skate site in the world

2000              Vans recognized by Forbes as one of “America’s Best Small Companies for 2000”

Vans purchases North America’s leading snowboard camp, the High Cascade Snowboard Camp

2001              Vans assists with the production of Dogtown and Z-Boys, Stacy Peralta’s look at the beginnings of skateboarding and the personalities that evolved the sport.  The film takes the Audience Award and Best Director Award at the Sundance Film Festival.  The film is narrated by Sean Penn

Vans enters into television broadcast deals for the Vans Triple Crown Series with NBC Sports and Fox Sports Net

Vans buys controlling interest of the Vans Warped Tour, the nation’s leading action sports and music festival

Vans again recognized by Forbes as one of “America’s Best Small Companies”

2002              Dogtown and Z-Boys released nationally by Sony Pictures Classics in April

The Vans Warped Tour hits 46 cities in the United States as well as tour through Australia for two weeks

Danny Kass and Doriane Vidal each medal at the Salt Lake City Olympic games wearing Vans snowboard boots

2003    Vans introduces the Vault collection of higher end Vans originals to select boutiques around the world.  The collection includes collaborations with Luella Bartley and Rebecca Taylor

Vans skate team embarks on its first-ever international tour when the Pleased to Meet You Tour hits seven countries in Europe and then returns to the States for stops in 30 cities

The Vans Triple Crown Series is bigger than ever with more than 285,000 event attendees and another 50 million + watching on NBC Sports and Fox Sports Net

2004              Vans launches Vans Customs at www.vans.com, allowing would be fashion designers to create their own Classic Slip-ons utilizing hundreds of different color and pattern combinations.  In October, the Old Skool is added to styles available.

In June, VF Corporation completes purchase of Vans for $396 million including stock options.

The Vans Warped Tour, passing the 500,000 attendee plateau for the first time, celebrates its 10^th Anniversary.

2005    Vans stages the first-ever Vans Cup at Tahoe in February at Northstar-at-Tahoe.  Wyatt Caldwell and Natasza Zurek captured the B.A.R. (Best All-Around Rider) titles, Danny Kass and Hannah Teter won Superpipe, while Caldwell and Leanne Pelosi won the Rail Jam.  These were just a few of the world’s best who competed.

In an event that many in the skate industry claim may be the best bowl contest of all time, Rune Glifberg, Chris Miller and Cara-Beth Burnside are winners at the inaugural Pro-tec Pool Party in the replica of the legendary and dearly-departed Combi Bowl at the Vans Skatepark at the Block at Orange.  The May 14 event takes place in front of a packed house and draws a throng of past masters and top pros.

The Vans Warped Tour draws more than 680,000 punk fans during the summer, solidifying its position as America’s longest running concert series.

Vans creates a new concept in skate street contests with the Vans Downtown Showdown, held in the Universal Studios Back Lot on Labor Day.  Skateboard companies are invited to submit designs for obstacles that were then sessioned in a Brooklyn city block setting.  Toy Machine took the team title, while Chris Cole and Angel Ramirez took the pro and am titles, respectively.

The freestyle BMX world descends on Las Vegas at the end of September for the first Vans/Hard Rock Let it Ride BMX Jam.  Ryan Guettler takes the Dirt title, while Scotty Cranmer wins the Street crown.

The Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters, the third jewel in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, celebrates 35 years at the world’s most famous surf break on Oahu’s famed North Shore

Vans continues to forge innovative collaborative efforts through the Vault by Vans line with Vans sneaker combinations with design giant Marc Jacobs and OC up-and-comers Trovata flying off shelves.

2006            Vans celebrates 40 years at the heart of youth culture

Long known as the leader in action sports footwear, Vans launches an extensive apparel collection for both men and women.  Skater Anthony Van Engelen becomes the first team rider for Vans Apparel.

Vans renews old acquaintances when legendary skater Christian Hosoi rejoins the team.  Skaters celebrate by snapping up the limited edition Hosoi Rising Sun Sk8-Hi.

13-year old John John Florence becomes the youngest male competitor in the history of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Vans looks back at a few legendary names and brands in surf and skate culture with Vault collaborations with iconic woollier Pendleton, the original Hawaiian shirt manufacturer in Hoffman Fabrics and shoes featuring classic board artwork from Ray Barbee and Steve Caballero’s early days.

Vans continues to raise the bar in designer projects, collaborating with Rogan’s Loomstate, Lucien Pellat-Finet and new styles with Marc Jacobs.

Vans kicks off a brand new Snow Outerwear program with heritage-driven, yet rider-influenced pieces for both men and women.  The collection includes pieces from team riders Andreas Wiig and Hana Beaman.

2007                        Vans Apparel expands it’s skate line and presence by adding ultra talented up-and-comer Johnny Layton

The surf community marks the twenty-fifth year that the world’s top surfers converge on Oahu’s North Shore for the grueling Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

Recognizing the cultural relevance of the Vans Warped Tour and its significance to the punk-rock/skate community, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland opens an exhibit documenting the Tour’s first 12 years.

Vans releases perhaps its most anticipated special collection to date with the Vans x The Simpsons series that features artwork from Kaws, Stash, Gary Panter, Geoff McFetridge, Dave Flores, Futura, Mr. Cartoon, Sam Messner, Taka Hayashi, Tony Munoz, Todd James and Neckface.

2008                        Vans brings its brand of youth culture to China with the opening of the first Vans retail store in Shanghai.

Long-time Vans surf team rider Joel Tudor signs on as the first surfer on Vans’ apparel program.

Vans signs up and coming superstar Ryan Villopoto to the Vans motocross team.

2009    The Vans Warped Tour will mark its 15^th anniversary this summer and continue to stake its claim as the longest running concert tour in North America.

Harry N. Abrams publishes Vans: Off the Wall, Stories of Sole from Vans Originals which recounts the story of the many action sports legends, artists and musicians who have helped shape Vans as an icon of California culture.

2010    Vans debuts the OTW line for guys offering sophisticated footwear blending progressive street and athletic styling from a skate perspective free from the constraints of hardcore performance.

Vans opens the House of Vans event space in Brooklyn, NY with music by Public Enemy and a hard charging bowl session headlined by Tony Alva, Steve Caballero and Omar Hassan.

326 schools across the United States participate in Vans Custom Culture, the high school shoe customization contest which culminates in four schools traveling to Vans’ home turf for a weekend of activities including the final showcase at the Orange County Museum of Art.  Winning school Rio Rancho High School of New Mexico receives a $10,000 grant towards the school’s art programs.

Vans introduces offthewall.tv, a digital online television network aggregating Vans’ rich content ranging from Yo Gabba Gabba! shorts to short surf films.

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