The history and classic models of “Vans,” the king of sneakers

Vans gained great popularity in the 1970s and 1980s

With a simple design that goes with any outfit, as well as a durable upper and grippy sole, Vans became the talk of the town among skaters in the 1970s. The influence of West Coast culture in particular was even stronger than it is today, and the brand spread throughout the world. Charismatic skaters Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta, known as key members of the “Z-Boys” skate team at the Zephyr surf store in Venice Beach, California, created a pair of authentic, cotton-filled The Authentics were padded with cotton in the cuffs, and were decorated with colorful color combinations. This became a hot topic among skaters at the time, and in 1976, the “#95 Era” model was released based on these specifications.

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For a taste of the atmosphere of the area around Venice Beach, aka “Dogtown,” on the West Coast of the U.S. at that time, the movie ” Lord of Dogtown” is a good choice. Based on the true story of the Z-Boys, the film was written by Stacy Peralta and co-written by Tony Alba and Jay Adams, two of the core members of the Z-Boys.

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Later, the Vans Classic Slip-On, released in 1979, became very popular in Southern California. Developed under the concept of “shoes that can be worn right away and skateboarded in,” the slip-ons were enthusiastically supported by skaters and BMX riders in that year and became a popular item.

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