Vans's program to support local skate shops

The bond between Vans and the skate world is visceral. For this reason, the Californian brand has decided to support 80 of its small business partners affected by the crisis caused by COVID-19 through the Foot The Bill project.

My father Paul Van Doren always said that we were a people company that made shoes. Now, more than ever, it’s important to support the people that provide spaces for communities around the world to be creative and come together - said Steve Van Doren, son of the founder of Vans and Vice President of Events and Promotions. We were once a small business and wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of these partners. We hope to rally together with our consumers to lend a helping hand to those that are in need. 

Using the Vans Custom platform, each shop will be able to create a Vans Classic Slip-On or an Era with a pattern that represents it. Then, fans will select the design, make further customizations, playing with colors, prints and combinations of materials. The net proceeds from the sales of these sneakers will go directly to local partners. Vans will allocate only 500 pairs to each sneaker which, once sold, they will no longer be available. 

The project, successfully launched in the U.S.A. on April 3, now involves several skate shops and restaurants, and new small businesses throughout Europe. In Italy, Vans collaborates for Foot The Bill with Rufus, Tutti Fritti and Bastard stores in Milan, with AcriminalG in Novara and Big Air in Ancona.