Vans Old Skool shoes

Vans was founded in 1966 in Anaheim, California, by brothers Paul and James Van Doren along with Gordon C. Lee and Serge D'Elia as The Van Doren Rubber Company. The brand's early success was built on its heavy-duty vulcanised rubber soles, notably the 'waffle' pattern, which became a favorite among the burgeoning skateboarding community in Southern California. The iconic side stripe, originally known as the 'jazz stripe', debuted on the Old Skool (originally Style 36) in 1977 and has since become one of the most recognisable brand marks in the footwear industry.

While Vans maintained its original manufacturing plant in Orange, California, for nearly 30 years, rising global demand led the company to shift its primary production overseas in the mid-1990s. Today, Vans shoes are manufactured across several international locations, with the majority of production occurring in China, Vietnam, and Cambodia, though components like rubber and specialized textiles may be sourced from South Korea or the USA.

In 2004, the brand was acquired by the VF Corporation, an American global apparel and footwear powerhouse. Under this ownership, Vans has transitioned from a niche action-sports label into a global lifestyle brand. VF Corporation, headquartered in Denver, Colorado, continues to manage the brand's global strategy, sustaining its legacy through major events like the Vans Warped Tour and extensive professional athlete sponsorships.