Vans
Vans is an American shoe brand from California that has existed since 1966 and grew big with skateboarding. Its low canvas and suede shoes with a waffle sole have been a fixture of skate, punk and streetwear culture for decades. Today you can wear Vans sneakers to school or the office just as easily as to the skatepark, for women and men.
The history of Vans
Paul Van Doren founded the Van Doren Rubber Company in Anaheim, California, in 1966, together with his brother Jim and two partners. The shoes were made on site and sold directly in the company’s own shop. The first model was the #44 Deck Shoe, the shoe now known as the Authentic.
Skaters in Southern California soon discovered that the thick, sticky waffle sole gave good grip on the board. Vans responded with models for skaters, such as the Era, the Slip-On and, in 1977, Style 36, later called the Old Skool. Vans designed the Era in 1976 together with skaters Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, adding a padded collar for extra comfort. The high-top Sk8-Hi followed a year after the Old Skool. Since 2004 Vans has been part of VF Corporation.
What is Vans known for?
Its key feature is the waffle sole: a rubber sole with a diamond pattern that gives solid grip and a good feel for the board. The Sidestripe is just as recognisable, the wavy stripe on the side that first appeared on the Old Skool. The checkerboard pattern and the ‘Off The Wall’ slogan are also part of the brand. The checkerboard became famous worldwide when a Slip-On with that print appeared in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Alongside the regular collection, Vans makes premium lines such as LX and OTW. These use better materials and often follow the original shapes from the archives more closely. Vans also collaborates a lot with skaters, artists and labels.
Popular Vans models
- Vans Old Skool: the low skate shoe in suede and canvas with the Sidestripe on the side, the brand’s best-known model.
- Vans Knu Skool: a newer, chunkier take on the Old Skool with a padded tongue and an extra-thick Sidestripe.
- Vans Slip-On: the laceless slip-on, often in a checkerboard print.
- Vans Authentic: the first Vans model, a simple low canvas shoe with laces.
On WOOVIN the range mainly consists of premium Old Skool 36 versions in the LX and OTW lines, complemented by the Knu Skool, the Slip-On 98 and the Authentic 44. If you are looking for another low classic, you might also consider the Converse Chuck Taylor or the Nike SB Dunk.
How do Vans sneakers fit?
Most Vans sneakers fit true to size, so you can stick with your usual size. Canvas and suede give a little after a few wears. If you have wide feet, go half a size up if in doubt, especially with low, flat models such as the Old Skool and the Authentic. The fit is similar to that of other low canvas sneakers, such as those from Converse.
Buy Vans at WOOVIN
On WOOVIN you will find Vans for women and men, with a focus on premium versions of the Old Skool. Choose an LX model if you want the original 1977 shape with better materials, and the Knu Skool if you are after a chunkier, more playful look. Filter by colour and size to quickly find the right pair.
