Vans

The brand known for its timeless designs, the checked checkerboard pattern and the fun color combinations. Shoes, clothing, caps; all available in the recognizable style. The first shoe that the Californian brand sells is the ' deck shoe' . The shoe, designed in 1966, is still one of the most popular models. Today we know it as the Authentic . This model, among other things, quickly established a link with the skateboarding world.

The fact that skateboarders like to wear Vans is primarily due to the rubber sole in waffle pattern. It provides so much grip and is ideal for practicing the sport that emerged in the 1970s. The fact that the brand is based in California contributes to its successes in the skateboarding world. Especially there, the sport was extremely popular in the beginning. At the same time, the Era model (then known as The Vans #95) was introduced. An entire generation of skateboarders embraces the model with the padded tongue and the special color combinations. The Vans Off The Wall logo also dates from the 1970s. The son of one of the founders makes the design that he wants to spray graffiti on his skateboard. The logo has remained the same to this day.

Because the connection with the skate world is mutual, Vans decides to design a special skate shoe. It will be the Vans #36, which is now known as the Old Skool . Once again a model that has stood the test of time. The well-known Vans stripe on the side was new at the time, as were the leather parts that ensure the shoe's durability.

The growth and development in the sport provides a boost for Vans. Innovation is being worked on and this was achieved in 1978. The Sk8-Hi model (then Style 38) is presented and takes the skate functionality to the next level . The high model, above the ankle, will prevent a lot of injuries for skateboarding daredevils . The shoe is not only revolutionary in a practical sense, because the new look is also an immediate success.

Breakthrough

Vans' real breakthrough to the general public was caused by the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. A real teen movie from the 80s. The main character, actor Sean Penn, has his stoner character constantly walking in his favorite black and white sneakers. That's right, the checkerboard sneakers from Vans. The shoes even make it to the cover of the film's soundtrack. The success of the film directly affects sales of Vans shoes.

The success also led to a first collaboration with professional skateboarder Steve Caballero. The first signature skate shoe, the Caballero, was born. In the skate parks and on the streets, the skateboarder notices something special. He sees that many people shorten the high model to better perform the more technical tricks . It gave him the idea to design a new version of the shoe for Vans. The Half Cab was launched on the market in 1992 .

Lifestyle

The fact that skateboarding and skating is often seen as a lifestyle is a reason for Vans to broaden its horizons. Becoming a sponsor of The Warped Tour is a big decision. The collaboration with the traveling punk rock festival is not surprising. Punk stars, like the guitarist of The Ramones, can be seen wearing Vans shoes everywhere. Later, collaborations were even entered into with various iconic bands and musicians, such as Iron Maiden, Kiss, Sex Pistols, Pearl Jam, The Beatles and David Bowie. To name a few .

Not only does the music world become a beloved partner of Vans, the fashion world is also queuing up for a collab . In 2005, new designs of the Slip-Ons and the Sk8-Hi were presented by fashion designer Marc Jacobs. Other big names contributing to new Vans looks include Comme des Garçons, Kenzo and Karl Lagerfeld. These designs ensure that Vans is no longer just seen as a skate brand. It's a smart way to reach a larger audience. The designs with cartoon classics clearly demonstrate that Vans likes a wink in its designs. First there is a collection of fourteen shoes that do justice to The Simpsons. Of course, Disney should not be missing from a list of cartoon classics . The Sk8-Hi and the Slip On get their own Mickey Mouse variant.

Identity

It is now clear that the brand is nothing too crazy. Why not make a movie? While Vans previously did this with a surfing film and a snowboarding film, in 2015 there will be, how could it be otherwise, a skateboarding film. The film, Propeller , brings a lot of international attention to the Vans Pro skate team. The film also shows the role Vans has played in the history and world of skateboarding.

Five years earlier, the brand came to New York with a special concept: House of Vans. A place where everything in the field of creativity comes together. It is a place to skateboard, admire art installations, take workshops and it offers many music venues with major artists. Today there are locations all over the world, from Canada to China and from Brazil to London.

Although skateboarding is an individual sport, it has a huge sense of solidarity. It's a kind of community that you are part of. Whether you are a beginner or a pro; the feeling of a skate group is the same everywhere. Perhaps that is an explanation for Vans' success. The brand did not start as a sports brand, but managed to identify with the skate lifestyle . Compared to Nike or Adidas, it is an odd one out. These sports brands have been committed to developing the best sports products from the start. They are also relaunching retro models, such as the Nike Air Force 1 or the Superstar . They are subject to hype because there are so many different models and variants.

Vans, on the other hand, has a few classic models that have been doing well all this time and have remained popular. Another feature that sets Vans apart is the customs . Choose from a basic shoe or backpack model and create your own design. Adding color, material, patterns and even photos or texts is possible. In doing so, it contributes to the still growing trend of street wear .

Because street wear it is . Vans clothing is also worn everywhere. Probably because the style is so accessible to everyone and portability is paramount. The items are cool and easy to combine with any style. The well-known checkered design, the checkerboard, is also often found in clothing. This way the Vans vibe remains recognisable. So it is certainly not just skate clothing, because for women there are also skirts, dresses and cool jackets, such as the Vans In The Know . In addition to clothing, the men's collection also consists of caps in different designs .

Quality

Although Vans only has a number of shoe models in its collection, the brand does not stand still when it comes to quality. Particular attention to shoes for skateboarding ( Vans PRO ) plays a major role. Skateboarders often have to choose between cupsole or vulcanized shoes. Cupsole shoes offer a lot of support and are softer, due to the cushions inside the shoe. Due to the space between your shoes and the skateboard, the board feeling is less than with vulcanized shoes. The vulcanized material, as the name suggests, is heat-resistant and harder. A soft insole is therefore nice with the otherwise somewhat hard exterior.

Vans has ensured that skateboarders no longer have to choose between the two types of materials. The 'waffle cup' construction is a combination of both and with this the brand has developed a vulcanized cupsole . The perfect combination of comfort, grip and optimal board feeling. This technique is mainly used in Vans PRO shoes .

Another development that characterizes the quality of Vans shoes is the DURACAP. You will find this, for example, with the Vans Kyle Walker Pro ( Coral Snake ). It is a rubber underlay reinforcement on the sole that has been added in areas prone to wear. To provide the skateboarder with comfort, the UltraCush HD footbed has been developed. The popular Vans Old Skool Pro is equipped with this soft footbed.

The WaffleControle technology was created in collaboration with skateboarder Elijah Berle . He insisted that the best skate shoe in the world be made. The Berle Pro was born. It is a combination of the best technologies in one shoe. A padded interior, a gum rubber outsole. The shoe has fewer loose parts, which creates less space between your foot and the skateboard. In short, more control and grip.

Vans x Baker

The collaboration between Vans and Baker is a special one. Baker is a skateboard brand that was founded in 2000. Just like Vans, the brand is part of skateboard culture in the areas of art, music and fashion. Together they have designed a clothing line and shoe collection that reflects both the history and identity of skateboarding. All items are made with durability in mind, which results in beautiful examples, such as the Vans x Baker Skateboards Style 112 Pro , Vans x Baker Skateboards Sk8-Hi Pro and the Vans x Baker Skateboards Slip-On Pro . All shoes from this special collection are equipped with DURACAP technology and the UltraCush HD footbed.

Vans at Burned Sports

Burned Sports has a diverse collection of both Vans and Vans PRO . All well-known models, such as the Authentic , the Sk8-Hi , Old Skool , the SlipOn and the Era, are available in the store and the webshop. Of course you can choose the classic colors or go for the checkered design. But more daring choices are also an option, with the Vans Authentic Tie Dye Multi White, for example .

A popular variation on the classic models is the ' Platform' . The shoe has a thicker sole than the normal design, a platform sole, which allows you to walk a little higher. At Burned Sports this variant is available in the Sk8-Hi , Old Skool and SlipOn models .

In addition to the shoe collection, the range has been supplemented with clothing and caps . The men's collection consists of T-shirts with the recognizable Vans style. Caps come in different models, such as the Cap 5-Panel Retro , the Cap 5-Panel Cordura Camper , the Curved Cap 6-Panel and Cap 6-Panel Pull Cord . Of course available in different colors and designs.

For ladies there is a choice of several dresses , including those with the recognizable checkered pattern. But of course you can also go for a cool skirt or jacket from the In The Know collection. Completely in the style of Vans and easy to combine!