Vans brings back Skate Era model for skateboarding’s 50th anniversary — Channel NewsAsia

In the United States, Vans brought back the Skate Era model in 2026 as the centerpiece of its collection marking the 50th anniversary of its skateboarding line. Vans positions it as the return of the world’s first skateboarding shoe. The original Style #95 model, later renamed Era, was developed in 1976 with the participation of skateboarders Tony Alva and Stacy Peralta.

As Channel NewsAsia reports, the Era was based on the early Vans Style #44 model, later known as the Authentic. The Van Doren Rubber Company opened its first store in Anaheim, California, in 1966. Initially, the canvas shoes with thick rubber soles were not created specifically for skateboarding, but they became popular among skateboarders in Santa Monica and Venice.

Shoes for skateboarders

In the mid-1970s, skateboarders needed more durable footwear for more complex tricks. The Era received a padded collar around the ankle and a reinforced construction. An important feature was the vulcanized waffle rubber sole, which provided grip on the board.

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Before the Era, similar low-top canvas-and-rubber models from Keds, Converse and Sperry already existed on the market. At the same time, Vans stood out by developing shoes together with skateboarders and taking their needs into account. The Era influenced the brand’s subsequent key models, including the Old Skool and Sk8-Hi.

A skate silhouette in fashion

Before the Louis Vuitton spring-summer 2027 menswear collection show in Paris, the creative director of the men’s line, Pharrell Williams, published photos and videos of Combi sneakers with a red crocodile leather upper, thick laces and a vulcanized sole. Their appearance prompted comparisons with the Vans Authentic.

Over the past year, Prada, Bottega Veneta and Phoebe Philo have presented their own interpretations of the classic skate silhouette. This trend is part of a broader shift toward slimmer and more understated sneakers after a period of popularity for chunky models. Designers are reinterpreting the familiar shape using leather and woven materials while retaining the shoe’s flat profile.