SUMMERTIME BLUES

A typical pair of canvas deck shoes,that turned out to be a rare find......
Close up of the original brand's logo......

.Faded chino pants, stripped shirt and a pair of canvas deck shoes, summer is a great time to sport a classic " French riviera" look.The pair showcased on today's post was another "lucky score",considering the fact that it was found at well sorted place,literally surrounded by stores for skateboarders and hipsters.My guess is, they didn't connect the dots and realize they weren't Vans knock-offs,but in fact the original "van authentic" from the late 60's .

In 1966 in Anaheim, California, Paul Van Doren and three partners opened up their first store. The Van Doren Rubber Company was born and unique in that it manufactured shoes and sold them directly to the public, eliminating the "middle man" . On the first day , 12 customers purchased Vans deck shoes[ now known as Authentic],which were just display items in the window. The shoes were made later that day and were ready for pick-up in the afternoon.

The company continued to grow into the 1970s. During this period they also produced wool lined canvas and rubber mukluks under contract to the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force. Skateboarders who liked Vans rugged make-up and sticky sole were seen sporting Vans all over Southern California in the early 1970s.

As the 1980s rolled around, Paul Van Doren began to take a lesser role in the company 's activities. Over this period, Vans started to create shoes for a number of sports from skateboarding, wakeboarding, motor cross, to surfing in an effort to compete with large athletic shoe companies. Vans Slip-Ons gained international attention and appeal when they were worn by Sean Penn in the 1982, iconic youth film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Although Vans core shoes were selling well, the wide range of products that the company now offered had drained the companies’ resources, and with Vans not able to overcome its debt they were forced to file for bankruptcy in 1983.Nowadays,Vans is more than ever back on the map ,doing what a lot of American"iconic brands" are doing: use their heritage to revamp old classics .