Vans is an American manufacturer of skateboarding shoes, apparel, and accessories, founded in Anaheim, California. Currently owned by VF Corporation, Vans sponsors teams in surfing, snowboarding, BMX, and motocross. Notably, Vans was a primary sponsor of the Warped Tour music festival from 1996 to 2019, and will be again in 2025, highlighting the brand's close ties to music and youth culture.
On March 16, 1966, Paul Van Doren, his brother James, and Gordon C. Lee opened the first Vans store as "The Van Doren Rubber Company" in Anaheim, California. The store sold shoes directly to the public, with twelve customers purchasing deck shoes on opening day.
In 1976, Vans began using its "Off The Wall" motto and released the Vans Side-stripe and Vans #36, also known as the "Old Skool" design.
In 1982, Vans reached nationwide popularity when Sean Penn wore a pair of Vans checkerboard slip-ons as character Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
In 1984, Vans lowered prices due to heavy competition and counterfeits, eventually leading to the company filing for bankruptcy protection.
In 1988, Van Doren and Lee sold the company to banking firm McCown De Leeuw & Co. for US$74.4 million.
In 1989, many Vans counterfeiters were apprehended by the U.S. and Mexican governments and ordered to cease production.
In 1991, Vans expanded internationally, released new models (including snowboard shoes), was renamed Vans, Inc., and went public at US$14 per share on NASDAQ.
In 1996, Vans became a primary sponsor of the annual Warped Tour music festival, a relationship that continued until 2019 and is scheduled to resume in 2025.
In 1998, Vans opened its first skate park at The Outlets at Orange, in Orange, California.
Since 1999, Vans has sponsored and supported Warped Tour, the longest-running touring music festival to date in North America.
In 2001, Warped Tour was rebranded as Vans Warped Tour.
In 2009, Vans updated its first skate park, located at The Outlets at Orange.
In 2010, Vans opened its second skate park in Huntington Beach, California.
In 2010, Vans sponsored the Duct Tape Invitational.
In 2014, Vans became the title sponsor of the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, California.
In 2016, Vans celebrated its 50th anniversary by releasing a new logo and launching a campaign to target a wider audience.
In 2016, the internet meme "Damn Daniel", featuring California teen Daniel Lara wearing Vans, went viral. In appreciation, the company gave Lara a lifetime supply of Vans shoes.
In 2019, Vans' initial run as a primary sponsor of the annual Warped Tour music festival concluded. The sponsorship is scheduled to resume in 2025.
The Vans skate park at The Outlets at Orange has remained closed since March 2020, when BMX rider Tyler Kanarr died after sustaining major injuries in the park.
In 2022, Vans hosted the BMX Waffle Cup, a freestyle BMX invitational tournament, to commence the US Open of Surfing period. Their Huntington Beach skate park's course was modified by BMX riders for the tournament and was themed after the US Open.
In 2022, Vans launched the new VR3 product line, where 30% of the product is renewable, recycled, or regenerative.
On August 9, 2023, Major League Baseball pitcher Michael Lorenzen became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in Vans. The Vans will be displayed in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 2025, Vans is scheduled to resume its role as a primary sponsor of the annual Warped Tour music festival.
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