The House of Vans Comes to Detroit this Weekend

Vans Shoes originally opened its first store in California in 1966. The small shoe manufacture was co-owned by two brothers who wanted to bring manufactured shoes to the public. Their first shop featured four styles of shoes with a variety of color options. The customers would come in, place their order and then come back to pick up their shoes. Then, in the early '70s everything changed when one of the owner's sons asked them to create a pair of skate shoes that featured a V that he had drawn on his skateboard. This logo and the skate shoes that he designed became the staple item for the shoe company and launched Vans into the skate and counterculture brand that we know today.

For the last 50 years, Vans has been thee brand of skateboarders, BMXers, and music lovers alike.  The brand sponsored Warped Tour for over 20 years and even had an entire song written about them by the legendary Detroit Suicide Machines. When you think of Vans, you think of music and skate culture, and when you think of skate culture and music, you think of Vans. In fact, there is nothing better than throwing on a pair of Vans and heading out to see some live music, which is exactly what they are hoping all of us will do this weekend.

Vans is launching a new event in Detroit this weekend called House Of Vans. The four day party will take place January 24th-27th and it will feature live music, art, education, and retail. This four day party will take place at Jefferson High School. Vans will construct stages and ramps and a pop-up market that will showcase some of Detroit's best companies. This includes SMPLFD, Ghostly International, Third Man Records, Grey Area, Genusee, Community Push, and B_KS@.

You can RSVP to each day of the event here. There are a ton of cool classes that will also be taking place throughout the day but they are already 100% booked, so you are no longer able to sign up to attend. The open events are listed below.

Thursday:
5-11 PM open skate
5-11 PM open market
8 PM Thundercat, Protomartyr, and Amber Mark


Friday:
4-11 PM Open Skate
4-11 PM Street Market
7 PM SESSIONS
House of Vans marquee series, SESSIONS, comes to Detroit this winter featuring open skate on the venues new skate park with tricks by QUASI, Quartersnacks, and Alltimers. In the auditorium, we’ll feature emerging musicians and live art by Shaina Kasztelan, Sheefy McFly, and more.

Saturday:
12-11 PM Street Market
3-11 PM Open Skate
7 PM Danny Brown, Joyce Manor, and Kelsey Lu

Sunday:
3-5 PM Open Skate
12-7 PM Street Market
5 PM Pyramid Scheme Competition- skate competition

~S