California-born footwear and apparel brand rooted in skateboarding culture and known for its iconic waffle sole.
ORIGIN
USA
PRICE TIER
mid
Founded in 1966 in Anaheim, California, by brothers Paul and Jim Van Doren, Vans (originally the Van Doren Rubber Company) became synonymous with West Coast skate culture. The brand’s rugged canvas deck shoes, with their signature sticky waffle-patterned rubber soles, were quickly adopted by skateboarders for their superior grip and board feel. This organic connection to the burgeoning action sports scene defined the brand's trajectory, cementing its 'Off The Wall' slogan as a tribute to the pioneering aerial maneuvers of mid-70s skaters.