Steve Van Doren appears to be framed by the Vans shoes whose famous checkerboard design was created by his father, company founder Paul Van Doren. This particular shoe style is No 98, a.k.a. the “Classic Slip-On.” The history of the Vans company, which was once a family owned business but is now a part of North Carolina-based apparel maker VF Corp., is chronicled in “Vans: Off the Wall: Stories of Sole From Vans Originals,” by Doug Palladini. The book is due out June 4.
Skateboarding is the preferred mode of transportation for Vans employees. The Vans headquarters is in Cypress, although the company is part of a larger company, the North Carolina-based apparel maker VF Corp.