At the weekend the sad news came that one of the founders of Vans Shoes, Paul Van Doren, has died.

In 1966 Paul started the „Van Doren Rubber Company“ together with his brother, Gordon Lee and Serge Delia, which later became Vans Shoes. V

ans on the death of Van Doren:

It’s with a heavy heart that Vans announces the passing of our co-founder, Paul Van Doren. Paul founded the Van Doren Rubber Company with his brother Jim, and their partners Gordon Lee & Serge Delia in Anaheim, CA in 1966. Paul was not just an entrepreneur; he was an innovator. The Van Doren Rubber Company was the culmination of a lifetime of experimentation and hard work in the shoe industry. Paul’s bold experiments in product design, distribution and marketing, along with his knack for numbers and efficiency turned a family shoe business into a globally recognized brand. We send our love and strength to the Van Doren family and all the Vans Family members who brought Paul’s legacy to life.