The birth of the checkerboard Vans customizer
The instantly recognizable Vans checkerboard pattern has become a symbol for the Californian brand. It first appeared on shoes now known as "slip-ons" thanks to Paul Van Doren, son of the creator of the Vans brand, who noticed that some skateboarders liked to customize their Vans themselves with this pattern on their soles. Checkered slip-ons will be the shoes worn as a sign of protest and racial unity as they appear in a complicated political context. Perhaps you saw them on Sean Penn's feet in the 80s film "It's Hot at Ridgemont High"? The checkerboard pattern has also come to customize Vans Old Skools, which have become the must-have sneakers for skateboarders in search of the right shoes for their boards.