Weekends At West: Vans Authentic "Sidewall Sketch"

March 16, 1966. 704 East Broadway, Anaheim, California. A STAR IS BORN. 

The Authentic is the shoe that started it all for the Van Doren brothers on this fateful day when they opened their first sneaker store, The Van Doren Rubber Company. They sold twelve pairs. Prices ranged from $2.99 to $4.99. If Vans isn't a prime example of the American Dream then who knows what is. 

A uniquely American icon that hasn't lost an ounce of its weight in cool for over 50 years - 50 YEARS - the Vans Authentic is seen here with some in your face branding on the sidewall, thus the "Sidewall Sketch" moniker. All the staples of the Authentic are covered: canvas upper, metal eyelets, and the vulcanized rubber sole. The bold outsole with "Vans" written in a font that looks like it was ripped from Neckface's archives rounds things out for this statement pair. 

The Vans Authentic "Sidewall Sketch" is available in store or online. Brave the elements to stop in and see us this weekend at 147 W 72nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam on Manhattan's Upper West Side. And be sure to check out the rest of our Vans offerings.