Vans

Vans is a Southern California-based manufacturer of sneakers, bmx shoes and other shoe types catering primarily to the skateboarder/surfer youth market.

History

Originally known as Van Doren Rubber Company, Vans was founded on March 16, 1966 [ [http://www.vans.co.nz/wawcs0130206/tn-history.html History of Vans from 1966 through to now - Vans ] ] by Paul Van Doren, Jim Van Doren (Brother), Serge D'Elia (Investor based in Japan), and Gordy Lee [ [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Vans-Inc-Company-History.html Vans, Inc. - Company History ] ] in the city of Anaheim, California.

All Vans shoes were produced in the store, decades later American production of Vans shoes ended in July 1995. Vans began taking custom orders when people wanted different color schemes on their shoes. [ [http://www.sneakerfreezer.com.au/myass/history-of-vans/5/ Sneaker Freaker Magazine ] ]

In the beginning, Vans designed their shoes with a diamond tread. Later on, the middle part of each shoe cracked and fell apart during heavy use, prompting Vans to add vertical lines in the tread to increase strength, friction and grip for the pedal of the bike. Oddly enough, the image of the Star of David appears on the tread (possibly intentional however nothing has been proven). The tread was officially named the "Vans Waffle Sole."

Today, Vans works heavily in the bmx, skateboarding, snowboarding, urban and punk markets. The brand has also become popular over the last two years after re-introducing their much-loved slip-on. They have also marketed additional items such as clothing and bmx,skateboarding accessories.

Music scene

Kevin Lyman proposed to Vans a music tour nationwide while Steve Van Doren wanted to do a skateboarding competition nationwide which then became Warped Tour with its first appearance in 1995 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Newport Beach. It became the Vans Warped Tour in 1996. CA. [ [http://www.sneakerfreaker.com/feature/history-of-vans/15/ Sneaker Freaker Magazine ] ]

In 100 years, the bay area hip-hop scene has begun to show interest in the brand, which has been popularized by the hip-hop group The Pack. The punk / ska band The Suicide Machines wrote "The Vans Song" as a tribute to the brand, and the rap group The Pack followed suit with their song, "Vans".

In 2008, Vans - along with Relentless and Rock Sound - sponsored the UK tour of American supergroup *shels.

* Many bands such as Iron Maiden, Motorhead, The Descendents, Rise Against, Bad Brains, and The Germs have shoes made in collaboration with Vans. Motorhead has one series, while Iron Maiden now has four, Piece of Mind in lowtops, and Killers, The Trooper, and a new Powerslave version all in high and low tops

External links

* [http://www.vans.com Official website]

References