The House Of Vans Backstory

Checking in with Vans legend Tony Alva for this instalment of House Calls

Just like the name Vans, the name House of Vans derives from the company’s original name: the Van Doren Rubber Company.

He may not be at the level—yet—of “billions served,” but Steve Van Doren has definitely flipped thousands of burgers over the years. Like all natural-born chefs, he has a deep-seated need to feed others.

In the beginning, there wasn’t really any plan. The House of Vans organizers just knew they wanted to build a fort, a sort of grown-up fort where people could feel free to do what they wanted, a place that would be lit from within by the imagination.

Next up on House Calls. Music played a huge role in Robert Trujillo’s childhood. His parents and cousins introduced him to a variety of genres, from Motown to Rock, Metal, and R&B.

The original House of Vans Brooklyn found its home alongside New York’s East River, in the neighborhood of Greenpoint.

China-based artist Panda Mei (Mei Huanlin) specializes in illustration, painting, screen printing, and vinyl toys, among other creative pursuits. He’s also a talented and sought-after street artist, having produced several murals for House of Vans Hong Kong. Read on as he shares his process for making one of his murals.