OFF THE WALL

March 16 1966, Paul Van Doren and three other partners opened up their first Vans store. The first morning of sales 12 customers ordered shoes which were made the same day and ready for pick up the same afternoon. They were originally named The Vans #44 deck shoe and  now they are called the Authentic Vans shoe. Skateboarders wore Vans all over Southern California in the early 1970s. By 1979 Vans slip ons became the new rage in Southern California. And by the end of the 1970s Vans opened up over 70 stores in California and sold through dealers and both nationally and internationally. In 1994 they began manufacturing these sneakers overseas and now Vans is about to celebrate its' fiftieth year of  shoe making. Starting as such a small California company it has come such a long way all over the world! They have been recognized by Forbes and recognized as Americas best small company. Now Vans is also very popular in surfing, skating, snowboarding, urban and punk markets, and also making clothing and skating accessories. This brand is only getting more and more popular by the day because of its very popular slip on sneaker model that everyone loves.