The success story of Vans, which started its journey on March 16, 1966 in Anaheim, California, continues today with the shoes it sells all over the world.
The Vans brand was founded in 1966 in California by brothers Paul Van Doren and James Van Doren. Paul Van Doren left school when he was in 8th grade, thinking he didn't want to study anymore. His mother got upset about this situation and got him a job at a shoe manufacturer called Randy's. His shoemaking career, which started there that day by wiping the floors, brought Paul to the position of the most executive of Randy's. When Paul wanted to start his own business, he and his brother started the Vans brand, the first name of which was the Van Doren Rubber Company. The company is particularly known for its surf and skateboarding shoes. Vans, whose checkered-patterned products have become a cult, has not abandoned this classic in all the products it produces, and has definitely used the checkered pattern in one of its series.
Over the next 30 years, Vans shoes were produced at several different factories in California, and then, in the late 90's, the company's manufacturing operation moved to China and Vietnam.
One of the signature features of Vans shoes is their vulcanized rubber construction, which is appreciated by skaters for providing superior grip and support while on the skateboard.
Vulcanized rubber is unique in that it goes through two 'baking' stages: The rubber is heated and compressed, then a second 'steaming' process takes place after assembly to create a durable but easy-to-bend shoe.
In the original vulcanizing method, which is still the most general method, sulfur is mixed with natural rubber before being heated. Sulfur changes the chemical structure of the rubber, forming crosslinks between polymers to make the final material more durable and longer lasting. The vulcanizing process has become a widely used technique since its introduction in the late 1800s, and most rubber products sold today are vulcanized. Synthetic materials such as EVA foam and lightweight nylon cannot be used in vulcanized shoes. Because they melt during the curing process. This is why Vans shoes use fabrics such as canvas and suede as uppers, which can withstand high temperatures during production.
Vans produces between 70 and 85 million pairs of shoes a year today. Up to 450 people work on each pair of shoes or are supervised by these people.
Each pair of Vans shoes goes through a five-step manufacturing process:
1) The first step, vulcanizing, takes place in the rubber chamber, the birthplace of each sneaker's signature waffle sole. Here, the rubber is subjected to heat before being compressed.
2) Shoe soles are prepared by 'holes' in the compressed rubber.
3) The bases are pressed into the cross pattern mold to create the iconic waffle base.
4) The shoes are taken to the assembly room where the upper parts and shoe details are selected and applied. Much of the shoe's appearance is determined at this stage. Then three rubber strips called the 'sole wall' are applied to the upper part and the sole, and the excess rubber outsole is cut off and the Vans logo is placed on the heel.
5) The shoes are polished and then enter the vulcanizing furnace where ideal conditions of heat, pressure and humidity harden the shoe to complete the shoe's structure.
How Was Vans Old Skool Born?
One of Vans' unforgettable models is the “Vans Old Skool” series. First appearing in 1977, Vans Old Skool shoes have been one of Vans' most iconic shoes ever since. Known as the “Style 36” at the time, these shoes are the first to use the signature side stripe of Vans. Created by Paul Van Doren while doodling for his new shoe model, this design was originally called "Jazz Stripes".
In the 1980s, Paul's son, Steve Van Doren, noticed that skateboarders personalize their shoes by painting them with pencils. He even calls this period the "privatization period". Shoes were starting to appear as a unique piece to reflect people's personalities, and Vans followed this trend from its early years. The fragmented surface and wide sole of the Vans shoes perfectly matched this customization idea. The Old Skool series has become a great canvas for this trend.