Brand intelligence
Vans
Vans is a Southern California footwear and apparel brand founded in Anaheim in 1966 by Paul Van Doren, James Van Doren, Gordon Lee and Serge D'Elia as the Van Doren Rubber Company. Its direct-to-customer factory model and durable deck shoes became closely connected to skateboarding, with the Era, Old Skool, Sk8-Hi and Slip-On forming a lasting product archive across sport, music and youth culture. VF Corporation acquired Vans in 2004. VF publishes Vans revenue as a brand measure within its wider portfolio, so those figures can be used at the stated Vans scope; consolidated VF revenue, regional totals and retailer sell-through are not automatically credited to the brand.
- Country
- USA
- Founded
- 1966
- Founder
- Paul Van Doren
- Ownership
- V.F. Corporation
- Revenue scope
- Consolidated V.F. Corporation
- Documented milestones
- 5
- Gordon Lee — Co-Founder1966–Present · product · current · Vans
- James Van Doren — Co-Founder1966–2011 · business · former · Vans
- Paul Van Doren — Co-Founder1966–1988 · business · former · Vans
- Serge D'Elia — Co-Founder1966–Present · business · current · Vans
- 1966 — Anaheim factory storeThe four founders open the Van Doren Rubber Company.
- 1976 — Era introducedTony Alva and Stacy Peralta help develop a skate-specific shoe.
- 1977 — Old Skool and Sk8-HiThe Sidestripe appears across new skate silhouettes.
- 1982 — Slip-On in filmThe checkerboard Slip-On gains broad cultural visibility.
- 2004 — VF acquisitionV.F. Corporation acquires Vans.