When I was a kid, the original Vans store was a bike ride away. and it was where we all got our shoes. Heck, some friends of mine even worked there. Plus, for a few extra dollars you could bring in a hunk of your favorite canvas fabric and Vans would turn it into a spiffy new pair of their comfy slip-ons.
Though I’ve been away a long time, the California surfer culture is soaked into my bones and it’s no surprise that the other day, while wasting a few minutes online, I got to thinking about those custom Vans and found myself exploring their website.
Holy cow, Vans is sure not a tiny little storefront anymore! It has turned into a clothing giant. But they still make custom shoes, and you don’t have to send them a half-yard of canvas anymore. Nope.
You can put your own artwork on their shoes!
Kowabunga!
Now, there are lots of great perks and bucket-list experiences to creating art, but daggone it, putting your own colored pencil roses on the toeses of a pair of Vans has gotta be right up there at the top. So I spent a few minutes with their online design tool, and created my very own pair, using my own art on the toe.
Back in the day, when I was wearing my Walkman and loving my very first pair of Vans from that little store on the corner, no doubt Kool and The Gang would be singing,”I want to put on my-my-my-my-my my boogie shoes!”
Oh yeah. Me, too. And they’re gonna be here in 2-3 weeks!
(If you want to create your own pair of Vans, check out their custom shoe page.)
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