Recognized today by its iconic checkerboard slip-ons and ‘Off the Wall’ slogan, Vans was able to separate its path from that of other sneaker brands by spending the last several decades building up a unique brand identity. In the early 1970s, Vans created skate shoes for now-legendary skateboarders Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta — the so-called “pioneers” of modern skateboarding. The shoes were a huge commercial success, and the rest, as they say, was history. With its feet firmly rooted in this rich legacy, Vans went on to become the ultimate supporter and embodiment of youth culture through its myriad of involvements in the action sports, music, art, and street fashion world.
Welcome to the 44th issue of B.
When a brand starts up, it is often said that the brand is being "created." Without care and affection, however, a great beginning means nothing, and a brand will never grow to earn respect. We have seen a number of failures come from grand starts. This is due to a lack of constant management and improvement. The beginning is just the beginning. Good brands, in my opinion, are created in the process that comes after that.
We here at B have also been working to improve the magazine, ever since our first issue. And from this issue on, readers will be welcomed by an “Editor's Letter,” instead of our regular “Publisher’s Letter”. In it, I will do my best to share what I have experienced in the field and what I experienced during interviews home and abroad.
Unlike other magazines that undergo dramatic makeovers, B has focused on making gradual design improvements. You might not notice the changes immediately, but if you look at our issues published one or two years ago, the difference is clear. Two important design changes have been made in this issue: We have revamped our typography, the most basic but trickiest element in magazine design, and we have tried to create a clearer distinction between the visual look of each article. It is our hope that these changes will help make the editorial intentions of our magazine even clearer than before.
In this issue we introduce Vans, a Californiabased sneaker brand that has its roots in action sports. Vans is usually associated with youth subcultures, such as skateboarding and hip-hop, but the brand’s true value lies in its unwavering advocacy for a specific culture over five decades, and the progress it has achieved in convincing people to share in the free spirit Vans embodies. This makes us reconsider the meaning of 'brand management.' Vans has cared so much for its skateboarders that it seems entirely natural for the founder’s son to drive them to competitions or for the company to support injured or retired players. During his interview with us, Steve Van Doren, the son of Vans’ founder, said that the most important thing to his father has “always [been] the people.” He also quoted his father, saying, “Vans is not a shoe company—it’s a people company that makes shoes.”
A simple makeover cannot transform someone into an entirely new being. Love and continual improvement are required to bring about great change and produce true innovation. The start of a new year might not be particularly satisfying, but it will be sure to end well if you just keep moving forward little by little.
Taehyuk Choi, Editor in Chief
Editor’s Note
Legend x Location
Places from Vans’ history, as recalled by the Vans family and a skateboarding legend
Opinion
Jürgen Blümlein, CEO of the Skateboard Museum
Origin
Early Vans sneakers found at the Vans HQ
Opinion
Ray Barbee, skateboarder
Variation
Contemporary Vans products as a diverse expansion on the company’s original models
Youth Culture
Youth culture leaders inspired by Vans’ “Off the Wall” spirit
Talk
Vans and sneaker culture from the perspectives of two street culture trendsetters
Partnership
Partners that share the Vans spirit
Shop
Historic sneaker models as recommeded by streetwear select shops
Brand Story
Following Vans’ entrance as the first skate shoe to becoming a youth culture icon
Inside Vans
Vans’ philosophy towards culture and people, as embodied in the California HQ
Factory
Vans’ roots in shoe manufacturing, as experienced in the Guangzhou factory
Legends in Vans
Former action sports legends now working at Vans
Culture
Four cultural pillars that align with Vans’ “Off the Wall” spirit
Interview
Kevin Bailey, President of VF Action Sports & Vans
Doug Palladini, Vice President and General Manager of North America
Legacy
Steve Van Doren, son of founder and ultimate ambassador
Figures
Vans by the numbers
PUBLICATION RIGHT
- Publisher
- Suyong Joh
- Editor In Chief
- Taehyuk Choi
- Senior Editor
- Eunsung Park
- Editors
- Jaewoo Seo, Yeongmin Kim
- Intern Editor
- Jisoo Kim
- Translation
- Hyunkyung Yoo, Narae Kim, Rancy Kim, Seongae Yang, Soonok Hwang
- Copy Editing
- Eugene Larsen-Hallock
- Proofreading
- Sarah Kessler Jang
- Designer
- Ayoon Jung
- Filmmaker
- Sukwang Baak
- Distribution
- Tony Song
- Correspondents
- Mihye Nam (Tokyo), Nari Park (London), Jungho Lee (New York), Jeewon Lim (Milan), Hyeseon Jeong (Paris)
- Publishing
- JOH & Company
- Printed in the Republic of Korea
- ISBN
- 978-89-98415-90-7 03050
REFERENCES
- Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture
- Sneakers: The Complete Limited Editions Guide
- Stickers: Stuck-Up Piece of Crap: From Punk Rock to Contemporary Art
- Blabac Photo: The Art of Skateboarding Photography Locals Only: California Skateboarding 1975-1978
- Paddle Against the Flow: Lessons on Life from Doers, Creators, and Cultural Rebels
- Complex Magazine
- Thrasher
- The Skateboard Mag, King Shit Magazine, Juice Magazine
- theberrics.com
- Proof Lab
- Calling All Skaters Skateshop