Vans is a Southern California based manufacturer of sneakers, skate shoes and other shoe types catering primarily to the active youth market. Founded in 1966 by Paul Van Doren, it was originally known as Van Doren Rubber Company. They market heavily in the surfing and skateboarding areas. In more recent years, Vans has marketed additional items such as clothing and skateboarding accessories.
In the 1980s, Vans lost much of its core customer base when the company started producing baseball and football shoes. The corporation was forced into bankruptcy in 1984 . Four years after emerging from bankruptcy protection, investment bankers McCown DeLeeuw Company bought Vans and went public in 1991.Vans had opened retail stores containing large indoor skate parks, with the first location opening in 1998 at The Block at Orange. This skate park as well as the one in Orlando are the only two that remain open. Former locations of Vans skate parks include Ontario Mills, The Great Mall of the Bay Area in Milpitas, Moorestown Mall, the Plaza at King of Prussia, Carnaby Street in London, and Potomac Mills.
In 2004 the company was acquired by VF Corporation, manufacturers of Lee and Wrangler Jeans for $396 million.
Vans also sponsors the Vans Warped Tour, a punk/ska music and extreme sports festival since 1995 .
Vans are most popular for their shoes and trainers. They are highly popular with the rock/skate/punk scenes, and also the emo scene and in recent years the bay area hip hop scene, a trend believed to be started by rapper Bran.B currently of the underground hip hop/rock group Reform Skool but most notably known for his contributions to early rap/rock act Dropsession of Rhode Island and Blacksburg, Virginia's Thrift Unit. Vans have also become popular over the last 2 years for re-introducing the slip-on range. Most commonly seen are the checkered slip-ons. There are now ever an ever increasing variety of colours and designs available.
No comments:
Post a Comment