Vans Shoes is an American manufacturer of BMX shoes, sneakers and similar shoes that target the young surfer and skateboarder market.

The history of Vans Shoes

The founders, owners and designers of Vans Shoes are Paul and Jim Van Doren and Gordon Lee. When the company was founded in Woodland, California in 1966, its original name was Van Doren Rubber Company. The Authentic Vans shoes are known as the Vans #44 deck shoes was immediately sold to 12 customers on the first day of the launch of the shoe company. In the 1970s, skateboarders who want the rugged look and the sticky sole of the shoes are seen wearing Vans shoes.

In the beginning of the 1980s, Vans Shoes started to broaden its market by creating shoes for other sporting activities including those for basketball, baseball, wrestling and even skydiving. Vans Shoes tried to compete with the larger brands that cater to different types of athletes. In 2004, Vans took another innovative step by offering an option on their website for their customers who would like to design their own Vans Shoes.

What are the awards that Vans Shoe Company received?

For two consecutive years, in 2000 and 2001, Forbes recognized Vans shoes as one of the best small companies in the United States. Also in 2001, Vans Shoes also helped in the financing of the movie Dogtown and Z-Boys with the story that revolves around skateboarding as a sport and the personalities that the sport created. Sean Penn was the narrator of the film. At the Sundance Film Festival, the film bagged the Best Director
Award and the Audience Award.

What makes Vans shoes unique?

All Vans Shoes are being made in the store; however, this was stopped in July of 2007. At present, Vans Shoes take custom orders when their customers want a different color for their shoes.

Vans in the music scene

Vans is a brand of interest in the hip-hop scene of the bay area. Musicians from other genre also took notice of the Vans Shoes. They include The Suicide Machines, a ska-punk band, which wrote The Vans Song. Other bands such as The Descendents, KISS, Slipknot and Rise Against also have shoes that were made through the collaboration with Vans Shoes.

Vans in Europe

From the United States, Vans Shoes was able to penetrate the European market and now has stores in the key cities in the continent. These cities include Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris and Berlin.