There aren't many sneaker brands that last long enough to see a 50th anniversary, but Vans is no ordinary sneaker brand. In celebration of reaching the 50-year milestone, Vans tapped skater Jeff Grosso to narrate this animated clip that traces the brand's history from humble beginnings to household name.
Beginning with founder Paul Van Doren's introduction of the Authentic board shoe, then known simply as the #44, Vans quickly went from a niche surf brand to a cult favorite amongst skaters. Eventually, Vans began rolling out more silhouettes like the Era and Sk8-Hi, and a prominent feature in 1982's Fast Times at Ridgemont High gave the brand more visibility than ever.
Yeah—it's a whole lot bigger than "Damn Daniel." Catch up with the history lesson in the video above.
