Vans Skate Shoes
In 1966 two brothers along with their business partners started the Van Doren Rubber Company and created the Vans #44 Deck Shoes (now the Vans Authentic). Fast forward a few years to 1974 and skateboarders all over California are skating in Vans shoes because of their sticky rubber sole. Then in 1976 Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta designed the Vans Era with a padded collar and multiple colour combinations, this cemented Vans as the skate shoes of an entire generation and future generations to come.
Vans was founded in 1966 in Anaheim, California, originally making vulcanized shoes that skateboarders quickly adopted for their unmatched grip and board feel. By the mid?1970s Vans had fully embraced skate culture, launching iconic skate models like the Era, Sk8?Hi, and Half Cab, and forever linking its “Off The Wall” ethos with the spirit of skateboarding.
Over decades, Vans has supported some of the most influential skateboarders in history and today’s scene. Past legends include Steve Caballero, Tony Alva, Christian Hosoi, and Jeff Grosso, whose signature models helped define skate style for generations. Today’s Vans Skateboarding team features a powerful mix of established names and rising talent, such as Geoff Rowley, Anthony Van Engelen, Chima Ferguson, Gilbert Crockett, Dustin Dollin, Curren Caples, Pedro Barros, Elijah Berle, Kyle Walker, Breana Geering, Daiki Hoshino, Zion Wright, Rome Collyer, and others carrying forward the brand’s diverse and dynamic skate identity.
Beyond footwear and hardware, Vans continues to shape skate culture through global events, creative collaborations, and cultural platforms that bring together skateboarding, art, music, and community. Today Vans Skateboarding stands as a global leader in action sports lifestyle rooted in skate heritage but always evolving with the sport and its culture.