“Off the Wall” – The History of Vans Classics

The story of the Vans Classic began on March 16, 1966, when brothers Paul and Jim Van Doren, along with partners Gordon Lee and Serge Delia, opened a modest little establishment in Anaheim, California. They called it the Van Doren Rubber Company, a business that manufactured and sold classic Vans shoes on-premises. Customers could purchase shoes in the morning, and they were ready for pickup in the afternoon. Since the early days of Vans history, the brand has produced favorites, such as the Vans Classic Slip-On, the Vans Classic Old Skool and many Vans Skate Classics, the latter of which became a multi-generational staple for skateboarders.

Shoes Loved by Sidewalk Surfers

Skaters quickly adopted the kicks, which featured a rugged makeup and sticky soles that clung to their boards. And when the 1970s hit, skateboarders throughout Southern California were sporting the shoes. A few years down the road, in 1976, the company released the Vans #95 (now known as the Era) designed by Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta. That model quickly became the shoe of choice for that generation of skaters. Soon after, the Van’s “Off the Wall” logo made its debut, further cementing the iconic Vans brand in the culture.

Birth of the Jazz Stripe

In 1977, the Vans #36 (aka Vans Classic Old Skool) first debuted the Vans Sidestripe — a once-random doodle by Paul Van Doren that was eventually referred to as the “Jazz Stripe.” It is now the highly recognizable hallmark of the brand. The Old Skool was also the first skate shoe that incorporated leather panels to increase durability.

The brand released the Vans Classic Slip-On a few months later. Heavily embraced by skateboarders and BMX riders alike, the Classic Slip-Ons soon became the shoe in SoCal. That silhouette would become a world-renowned icon for generations to come. By the end of the ’70s, Vans had 70 stores throughout California and a national and international network of dealers.

The Versatility of Vans

Since then, Vans has released iconic models like the Sk8-Hi, the Chukka Low, the Authentics and the Half Cab. The kicks have appeared on the big screen with Sean Penn in the film “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” The brand also sponsored the inaugural Triple Crown of Skateboarding event, eventually expanding to BMX, surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, freestyle motocross and supercross.

From the brand’s involvement in an award-winning skateboarding film at the Sundance Film Festival to collaborations with the rock band Metallica, Vans continues to turn a variety of different heads. They even launched Vans Customs to allow would-be fashion designers to create their own Van Classic Slip-On designs using hundreds of different colors and patterns.

Love the history? Check out these classic styles. Pick up your favorite pair of Vans in-stores or online at Hibbett | City Gear, and incorporate them into your unique style.