History of The Vans Checkerboard:
Vans are a classic old school skateboard shoe that has been around since the early 70s. This brand was created for skaters and produced by the Doren brothers in Anaheim, California. I have been a fan of Vans sneakers dating all the way back to my middle school days. These sneakers are a staple in my closet and probably yours too. They are comfortable, stylish, and at an affordable price point. You can style them up with a pant suit or down with shorts and a graphic t-shirt. I like to style mine with high and low end pieces making these shoes work for me!
I have a variety of black and white Vans in the Sk8-Hi style and recently added the checkerboard Sk8-His to my collection. A classic pattern for the brand that has become a symbol for skaters everywhere. This pattern had me curious about the history behind it. I was pleasantly surprised to find out the symbolism when I stumbled across the history of the Vans checkerboard pattern on Urban Outfitters blog:
The second wave— dubbed the Two Tone wave, represented racial unity. During this politically charged era of the genre, the checkerboard pattern came to symbolize the breaking of racial barriers. The Vans checkerboard became a favorite amongst the subculture.
OU Blog
It’s the mark of a great icon to be both representative of a specific time and place and also timeless. With their classic silhouettes and styles, and more specifically, the checkerboard sneaker, Vans have not only crafted a shoe that look as good as it feels to wear. They have created an icon.
WHAT IM WEARING:
Hat: Stussy
T-Shirt: Banana Republic
Sweats: boohoo
Sneakers: Vans
