In this new edition of Bread and Butter, Vans will be presenting the highlights of its new collection Spring / Summer 2008. Don´t miss it, we will be in the Sport & Street Pavellion, as allways.

Vans – An `Off the Wall` History

1966 Paul Van Doren and three partners open first store at 704 E. Broadway in Anaheim, Calif. on March 16.
The Van Doren Rubber Company is unique in that it manufactures shoes and sells them directly to the public.
On that first morning, 12 customers purchase shoes which are made that day and ready for pick-up in the afternoon.

Vans #44 deck shoes, now known as the Authentic, are born

Early 70s Skateboarders who like Vans’ rugged make-up and sticky sole are seen sporting Vans all over Southern California
1976 The Vans #95, now known as the Era, with a padded collar and different color combinations, is designed by Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta and becomes the shoe of choice for a generation of skateboarders
1979 The Vans #44 is introduced and with the help of skateboarders and BMX riders, Vans Slip-ons become the rage in Southern California. By the end of the 70s, Vans has 70 stores in California and sells through dealers both nationally and internationally

1982 Vans Slip-ons gain international attention and appeal when they are worn by Sean Penn in the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Early 80s Paul Van Doren steps back to take a lesser role in company activities; Vans creates shoes for a number of sports from baseball, basketball and wrestling to even skydiving in an effort to compete with large athletic shoe companies
1983 Vans files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Although the core Vans shoes are selling well, the wide range of products that Vans now offers have drained company resources and Vans is not able to overcome debt

Courts approve re-organization plan if Paul Van Doren returns as chief administrator; Paul tells all employees that they may not get a raise for three years and they will need to cut back on everything but the quality of Vans Shoes
1986 In three years, Vans has paid back all creditors 100 cents on the dollar and in December, Vans re-emerges from the $12 million debt and Chapter 11

1988 Vans’ original owners sell to McCown DeLeeuw Co., an investment banking firm. With the new owner`s financial backing, Vans expands and increases worldwide presence

1991 Vans makes initial public offering of stock, which is now traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange
1994 Vans begins manufacturing footwear overseas allowing for development of new shoe styles
1996 Vans sponsors the inaugural Triple Crown of Skateboarding event

1997 Vans begins creating the world’s leading action sports series with the purchase of the Triple Crown of Surfing; by 2000 the Vans Triple Crown Series will include events in skateboarding, BMX, surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, freestyle motocross and supercross

1998 Vans opens first of its kind, 46,000 square-foot indoor/outdoor Vans Skatepark at the Block at Orange mall in Orange County.
2000 Vans recognized by Forbes as one of “America’s Best Small Companies for 2000”

Vans purchases North America’s leading snowboard camp, the High Cascade Snowboard Camp

2001 Vans finances the production of Dogtown and Z-Boys, Stacy Peralta’s look at the beginnings of skateboarding and the personalities that evolved the sport. The film takes the Audience Award and Best Director Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The film is narrated by Sean Penn

Vans enters into television broadcast deals for the Vans Triple Crown Series with NBC Sports and Fox Sports Net

Vans buys controlling interest of the Vans Warped Tour, the nation’s leading action sports and music festival

Vans again recognized by Forbes as one of “America’s Best Small Companies”

2002 Dogtown and Z-Boys released nationally by Sony Pictures Classics in April

The Vans Warped Tour hits 46 cities in the United States as well as tour through Australia for two weeks

2003 Vans introduces the Vault collection of higher end Vans originals to select boutiques around the world. The collection includes collaborations with Luella Bartley and Rebecca Taylor

Vans skate team embarks on its first-ever international tour when the Pleased to Meet You Tour hits seven countries in Europe and then returns to the States for stops in 30 cities

The Vans Triple Crown Series is bigger than ever with more than 285,000 event attendees and another 50 million + watching on NBC Sports and Fox Sports Net

2004 Vans launches Vans Customs at www.vans.com, allowing would be fashion designers to create their own Classic Slip-ons utilizing hundreds of different color and pattern combinations.

The Vans Warped Tour, coming off its most successful year yet with more than 500,000 attendees, celebrates its 10th Anniversary, solidifying its position as America’s longest running concert series.