Vans is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. In addition to staging various events, the company will be offering special product releases throughout the year. The celebration will start in March with the global expansion of the House of Vans, the international music venue and the company's cultural hub. Vans was launched in 1966 as the Van Doren Rubber Company in Anaheim, California, where it produced deck shoes in its own manufacturing facility, which it then sold directly to the public. Thanks to their rugged design and sticky rubber sole, Vans shoes quickly became popular among skateboarders and were adopted by the rising skateboarding subculture. Today the brand features apparel, footwear and accessories for extreme sports and its collections are available in more than 75 countries through a network of partner companies, distributors and international offices. Vans also owns and operates more than 450 stores globally. Besides designing and selling shoes, the brand promotes youth culture and personal creativity through the support of athletes, musicians and artists and across various platforms and events such as the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing, Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, Vans Pool Party, Vans Warped Tour, Vans Custom Culture, and indeed its cultural hub dedicated to international music, the House of Vans.

Topics