What year was Vans founded?

Vans was founded in 1966. The company opened its first store on March 16, 1966, in Anaheim, California, under the original name Van Doren Rubber Company.

The business was founded by brothers Paul and James Van Doren and their partner Gordon C. Lee. Unlike many shoe companies, the new operation manufactured shoes and sold them directly to customers from its own shop. Its first products were sturdy deck shoes, a practical design that later became known as the Authentic.

The launch was famously improvised. The store displayed sample shoes but had not yet stocked finished inventory, so the first twelve customers selected styles and returned the next day to pay after the shoes were made. The opening prices ranged from $2.49 to $4.99.

Vans’ early connection with skateboarding helped transform a local California manufacturer into a global lifestyle brand. The company adopted the slogan “Off the Wall” in 1976, using a phrase associated with skateboarders performing tricks in empty swimming pools. Vans later became known for models such as the Old Skool, Slip-On, and Sk8-Hi.