Vans: history, skate culture and iconic sneakers
Vans was founded in 1966 in Anaheim, California, with the opening of the Van Doren Rubber Company.
From the very beginning, the brand developed a special relationship with Southern California culture and, above all, with skateboarding. The simple construction of the first sneakers and the characteristic rubber waffle sole were quickly appreciated by skaters for their grip and durability.
Since that moment, Vans has evolved alongside skate, BMX, music, art and streetwear, transforming silhouettes born several decades ago into models that are still recognizable today.
Within the ResellZone Sneakers selection, Vans therefore represents one of the brands with the most direct relationship between footwear and skate culture.
Vans Authentic: the sneaker that started the brand
The Vans Authentic is the silhouette where the brand's history begins.
In 1966 it was introduced as the Style 44, a simple low-top shoe with a canvas upper and rubber waffle sole.
The combination of an essential construction and grip made the model popular among California skateboarders in the early seventies.
The name Authentic would come later, but the silhouette continues to maintain the original language: low profile, metal eyelets, laces and a deliberately minimal structure.
Contemporary reinterpretations of the Authentic are also present in the ResellZone selection, including Premium releases and collaborations.
Vans Premium Authentic
The Vans Premium Authentic reinterpret the original silhouette through more refined materials, construction and details.
The model maintains the low-top shape of the Style 44, but may use suede, heavier canvas, updated internal structures and footbeds designed to increase comfort.
Releases like the Premium Authentic La Habana showcase this approach well: the design remains immediately recognizable as Vans, while materials and colorways modify the sneaker's character.
The Vans Premium Authentic La Habana Red Navy represents one of the interpretations found in the selection.
Vans Era: the sneaker designed for skating
The Vans Era was born in 1976 under the name Style 95.
The silhouette was developed with the input of skateboarders Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta and starts from the simplicity of the Authentic, introducing elements more oriented toward skating.
Among the most evident differences is the padded collar, designed to offer greater support.
The Era thus became one of the first Vans developed specifically around the needs of skateboarders and one of the silhouettes that helped consolidate the brand's relationship with skate culture.
Vans Era and Supreme
Over the years, the Era has been used as a base for numerous collaborations.
These include releases created with Supreme, which frequently uses historic Vans silhouettes as a platform for graphics and special projects.
The Supreme x Mike Kelley Eras present in the ResellZone selection show how a model born in the seventies can become a base for collaborations linked to art, fashion and contemporary streetwear.
The relationship between Vans and creative collaborations is, in fact, one of the elements that distinguishes the brand's most sought-after catalog from normal seasonal releases.
Vans Old Skool: from Style 36 to the Sidestripe
The Vans Old Skool debuted in 1977 under the name Style 36.
It is a fundamental model in the brand's history because it introduced for the first time what would become the Vans Sidestripe, originally born from a drawing by Paul Van Doren.
The sneaker also uses suede panels alongside canvas, increasing durability in areas most subject to wear and tear during skating.
These elements progressively transformed the Style 36 into one of the most recognizable Vans silhouettes.
In the early nineties, the model definitively took on the name Old Skool.
Vans Old Skool 36
The current Old Skool 36 directly takes up the original name Style 36.
The structure maintains the fundamental elements of the historic silhouette — low profile, Sidestripe and vulcanized construction — while materials, proportions and details are reinterpreted according to the specific release.
Today, the Old Skool 36 represents one of the most used bases within the Premium and OTW by Vans lines.
In the ResellZone selection, Pearlized versions, Souvenirs and collaborations with different artists and brands appear.
Vans Pearlized Pack
The Pearlized Pack is one of the Vans sub-themes that is attracting the most interest.
The collection uses pearlescent finishes and materials that modify the surface of the classic Old Skool 36, creating a result that is very different from traditional canvas and suede configurations.
The Vans LX Old Skool 36 Pearlized Pack Black Navy combines dark tones with the unique Pearlized finish.
Alongside this appear Marshmallow, Pink Black and Vintage Cocoa Brown interpretations.
The Pearlized Pack shows well how Vans uses a historic silhouette as a platform for contemporary projects without completely modifying its identity.
Vans Old Skool Souvenir
Another reinterpretation of the Style 36 is the Souvenir family.
The Vans Old Skool 36 LX Souvenir Warm Brown uses materials, details and finishes that bring the silhouette toward a more refined aesthetic compared to the standard Old Skool.
The base, however, remains that of the Style 36, allowing the Sidestripe and the historic proportions of the model to remain immediately recognizable.
OTW by Vans
OTW by Vans represents the brand's most experimental and premium space.
The line uses Vans heritage as a starting point to work with artists, designers and figures from skate, music and contemporary culture.
The Old Skool 36, Authentic and Era are thus reinterpreted through more refined materials, updated constructions and collaborations.
In the ResellZone catalog, many of the most unique Vans releases belong specifically to the OTW universe.
Vans OTW and Satoshi Nakamoto
Among the most unique releases present in the selection are the Vans OTW Era 95 Satoshi Nakamoto.
The sneaker uses the Era 95 as a base and develops a project characterized by graphic details and references to the name Satoshi Nakamoto.
The Vans OTW Era 95 Satoshi Nakamoto Round Lucky Charm today represents one of the Vans products with the greatest organic interest within the ResellZone catalog.
It is a particularly clear example of how the current Vans universe goes far beyond just classic colorways.
Vans x Gallery Dept.
Gallery Dept. has also reinterpreted several Vans silhouettes.
Old Skool and Authentic are used as bases for a language closer to art and contemporary fashion, while still maintaining the brand's historic elements.
The presence of Gallery Dept. within the Vans selection is important because it shows the relationship between skate archives and fashion collaborations that characterizes many of the most sought-after releases.
Vans x Parra
The collaboration with Parra works directly on the Old Skool 36.
The silhouette is reinterpreted through the visual language of the Dutch artist, using suede, color blocking and asymmetrical details.
In this case as well, the starting point remains the 1977 Style 36: a historic sneaker transformed through contemporary materials and languages.
Old Skool, Authentic and Era: what are the differences?
Old Skool, Authentic and Era are three historic Vans silhouettes, but they are not the same shoe.
The Authentic is the most essential model: it was born in 1966 as Style 44 and uses a simple low-top construction.
The Era, introduced in 1976 as Style 95, starts from that language by adding a padded collar and details developed more around skating.
The Old Skool, born in 1977 as Style 36, instead introduces the Sidestripe and a more articulated construction with additional panels.
Choosing between the three therefore means choosing three different moments in Vans history.
Vans for men and women
Vans for men and women are generally offered in very broad size ranges and many silhouettes are substantially unisex.
The same Old Skool, Authentic or Era can therefore be chosen primarily by referring to the correct EU size.
Construction and materials can, however, change between a classic, Premium, LX or OTW release.
For this reason, it is useful to always verify the specific sneaker and not generalize the fit of the entire Vans catalog.
How much do Vans cost?
The price of Vans varies considerably based on the type of product.
A standard release follows very different dynamics compared to a collaboration, an OTW version or a colorway produced in limited quantities.
Pearlized projects, Gallery Dept., Supreme, Parra or Satoshi Nakamoto can therefore have values on the secondary market that are much higher than normal Vans Classics.
Size, availability and the specific release further influence the price.
Original Vans and authenticity
To correctly verify original Vans, one must consider the model and the specific release.
Shape, canvas, suede, Sidestripe, waffle sole, foxing, stitching, heel tab, internal labels, product code and packaging can vary between Authentic, Era, Old Skool and Premium or OTW versions.
Collaborations also require checking specific details related to the project.
At ResellZone, every product undergoes the prescribed verification process to check its authenticity and consistency with the specific release. The method used is explained in detail on the page dedicated to product authenticity.