Vans Shoes Designer James Van Doren Dies; Footwear Became National Fad After 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High'

10:51 PM PST 11/6/2011 by THR Staff

0
0
0
0
0
Email
Print
Comments

Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High - P 201

Sean Penn wore a black-and-white checkerboard pair in his breakout role as Spicoli in the 1982 movie.

James Van Doren, who designed the Vans line of shoes that became a nationwide fad after Sean Penn wore a pair in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, has died of complications related to cancer, the New York Times reported. He was 72.

Sean Penn Calls Tea Party the 'Get the N-Word Out of the White House Party' (Video)

Sean Penn Played Role in Helping Free Two American Hostages in Iran

Sean Penn Speaks Out on His Friend Charlie Sheen

Sean Penn Joins Demonstrators in Egypt

•Obituaries

Van Doren, who died Oct. 12 at his home in Fullerton, Calif., launched the Anaheim-based Van Doren Rubber Co. in 1966 along with his brother Paul and two others.

PHOTOS: Hollywood's Notable Deaths

The rubber-soled canvas shoes became a mainstay among the California skateboarding community in the 1970s thanks to their especially strong grips, which helped wearers perform aerial stunts on skateboards. The shoes and the company later became known simply as Vans.

But it wasn't until 1982's Fast Times that they became a popular with people outside of the skateboarding culture.

PHOTOS: Sean Penn's Humanitarian Work in Haiti

In the movie -- which marked Penn's breakout role -- the actor played Jeff Spicoli, a surfer dude with no job who enjoys smoking marijuana and continually shows up late for class, to the eternal irritation of history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston).

Penn wears a black-and-white checkerboard pair of slip-on Vans in the movie, which sparked a nationwide fad. Suddenly, people across the U.S. who had never set foot on a skateboard were sporting Vans.

THR COVER STORY: Sean Penn's Efforts in Haiti

However, by 1984, the company was forced to seek bankruptcy protection as the shoes began losing popularity and competition from outside the U.S. was increasing.

Paul Van Doren replaced his brother as president, and four years later the company was sold to private equity firm McCown De Leeuw & Company. It's now owned by North Carolina-based apparel company VF Corp., which also owns Wrangler and Lee jeans.