Vans Opens Its First Factory and Store
Year: 1966
March 16, 1966, is a landmark date in Vans history, as Paul Van Doren and three associates, including his brother James, opened the brand's first-ever store at 704E Broadway, in Anaheim, California. It would still be a few more years before the Vans Classic Slip-On would be introduced, as models like the #44 (now known as the Authentic) paved the way for Vans' most iconic shoe in the brand's early years.
The Vans Slip-On is Introduced for the Very First Time
Year: 1977
Vans introduced style #48, known more colloquially as the Classic Slip-On, in 1977. The origins of the shoe actually came from a slip-on shoe produced by the company Paul Van Doren previously worked for that featured a non-skid sole designed for boating.
The Checkerboard Slip-On is Created
Year: Late '70s.
What the elephant print is to Jordan Brand, the checkerboard is to Vans. The brand got the idea for it's most iconic design after Steve Van Doren saw kids coloring in the white rubber on the shoe checkerboard style. Vans initial idea was to recreate the trend on the rubber side profile, but later the company began making checkerboard canvases.
The Van Slip-On is Featured in Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Year: 1982
The real launching point for the Vans Classic Slip-On came in 1982, when Sean Penn's character Jeff Spicoli wore the Checkerboards in the movie Fast Time at Ridgemont High. The shoes gained widespread notoriety when Spicoli hit himself in the head with the shoe during the movie's trailer. The Checkerboards received further recognition when they were prominently featured on the cover of the movie's soundtrack.
The Vans Slip-On's Worldwide Presence is Increased
Year: 1988
After being forced to file for bankruptcy in 1983, Vans paid off all its debts and was back up and running within a few years. In 1988, the company was sold to an investment banking firm and the brand's worldwide influence increased. The brand that started in a small shop in Anaheim was now recognized on a global scale.
Vans Begins its Sponsorship of the Warped Tour
Year: 1995
The Vans Classic Slip-On's association with punk rock was officially cemented in 1995 when Vans signed on as the sponsor of the Warped Tour, which would go on to become the longest-running traveling music festival in the America. Special edition Classic Slip-Ons bearing the Warped Tour's logo have been made over the years, exposing the shoe to a whole new generation of music and skate fans.
Vans Allows Customers to Create Custom Slip-Ons
Year: 2004
On November 12, 2004, Vans launched the Vans Custom platform on its website, which allowed customers to create their own Classic Slip-Ons much like NikeiD or mi adidas. The shoe literally became a blank canvas for your imagination to run wild. Ten years later, you can still create your own custom Slip-Ons with hundred of different colors and patterns to choose from.
The Slip-On Gets A Proper Hip-Hop Tribute
Year: 2006
The Air Force 1 isn't the only sneaker with a hip-hop song. Led by a young Lil B, a relatively unknown rap group from the Bay Area named The Pack would rise to fame on the strength of their single "Vans." The song, which actually denounced the iconic Nike shoe, was an ode to the Vans Classic Slip-On, which was a bit unusual at the time given the shoe's association with the punk rock and skate cultures.
The Slip-On's Legacy in Hip Hop
Year: 2010
Right around the time Weezy got into skateboarding, he dropped multiple Vans-referencing lines on his 2010 album I Am Not a Human Being. The most notable line came on the Drake featuring single "Right Above It," in which Tunechi boasts about his wardrobe full of "skinny pants and some Vans."
North West Brings the Vans Classic Slip-On to Another Level
Year: 2014
Who knew the Vans Classic Slip-On would come to this? While out on a family pumpkin-picking outing this past fall, North West's "custom" Slip-Ons were revealed to the world. Sure, they may just be a pair of white Slip-Ons with her name written in sharpie, but it brought the Classic Slip-On front and center in pop culture once again.
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