In which year was the 'Vans' apparel company founded?

'Vans' is an American manufacturer of skateboarding shoes and related apparel, based in Costa Mesa, California, owned by 'VF Corporation'. The company also sponsors surf, snowboarding, BMX, and motocross teams. Since 1996, the company has been the primary sponsor of the annual 'Vans Warped Tour' traveling rock festival.

On March 16, 1966, brothers Paul Van Doren and James Van Doren, Gordon C Lee, and Serge D'Elia opened the first 'Vans' store under the name 'The Van Doren Rubber Company'. The business manufactured shoes and sold them directly to the public. On that first morning, twelve customers purchased Vans deck shoes, which are now known as "Authentic". The company displayed three styles of shoes, which were priced between US$2.49 and US$4.99, but on the opening day, the company had only manufactured display models without any inventory ready to sell—the store rack boxes were actually empty. Nevertheless, the twelve customers selected the colours and styles they desired, and were asked to return later in the afternoon to pick up their purchases, which were manufactured in the meantime.

In 1988, Paul Van Doren and Gordon C Lee sold the 'Vans' company to the banking firm 'McCown De Leeuw & Co'. for US$74.4 million. In 1989, many manufacturers of counterfeit Vans shoes were apprehended by the US and Mexican officials and ordered to cease production.

In 2004, Vans announced it would merge into North Carolina based 'VF Corporation'.