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Inside Vans’ Cypress headquarters

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. More in Image: • Neon fashions turn it up for summer | Photos • Vans shoes: a happily checkered past | Photos • Lookback: Robin Piccone and Body Glove: When the beach arrived | Past Lookbacks • Clemente siblings: good taste times four • Pictures: Get the sun-kissed look for summer • Weekly obsessions: Memorial Day barbecue essentials • The Image Photo Booth: Grace Slick's White Rabbit Art and Tea Party • All the Rage: The Image section's blog

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.

More in Image:
• Neon fashions turn it up for summer | Photos
• Vans shoes: a happily checkered past | Photos
• Lookback: Robin Piccone and Body Glove: When the beach arrived | Past Lookbacks
• Clemente siblings: good taste times four
• Pictures: Get the sun-kissed look for summer
• Weekly obsessions: Memorial Day barbecue essentials
• The Image Photo Booth: Grace Slick’s White Rabbit Art and Tea Party
• All the Rage: The Image section’s blog
  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Vans skate boards.

A bench seat made of skateboards reflects the company’s devotion to the skating culture.

More in Image:
• Neon fashions turn it up for summer | Photos
• Vans shoes: a happily checkered past | Photos
• Lookback: Robin Piccone and Body Glove: When the beach arrived | Past Lookbacks
• Clemente siblings: good taste times four
• Pictures: Get the sun-kissed look for summer
• Weekly obsessions: Memorial Day barbecue essentials
• The Image Photo Booth: Grace Slick’s White Rabbit Art and Tea Party
• All the Rage: The Image section’s blog
  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Vans headquarter in Cypress

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.

More in Image:
• Neon fashions turn it up for summer | Photos
• Vans shoes: a happily checkered past | Photos
• Lookback: Robin Piccone and Body Glove: When the beach arrived | Past Lookbacks
• Clemente siblings: good taste times four
• Pictures: Get the sun-kissed look for summer
• Weekly obsessions: Memorial Day barbecue essentials
• The Image Photo Booth: Grace Slick’s White Rabbit Art and Tea Party
• All the Rage: The Image section’s blog
  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Vans employees skates in the company's skate park

Vans employees skate in the company’s skate park in Cypress during lunchtime.

More in Image:
• Neon fashions turn it up for summer | Photos
• Vans shoes: a happily checkered past | Photos
• Lookback: Robin Piccone and Body Glove: When the beach arrived | Past Lookbacks
• Clemente siblings: good taste times four
• Pictures: Get the sun-kissed look for summer
• Weekly obsessions: Memorial Day barbecue essentials
• The Image Photo Booth: Grace Slick’s White Rabbit Art and Tea Party
• All the Rage: The Image section’s blog
  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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Vans headquarter in Cypress.

A collage captures the casual and youth culture at the Vans headquarters in Cypress.

More in Image:
• Neon fashions turn it up for summer | Photos
• Vans shoes: a happily checkered past | Photos
• Lookback: Robin Piccone and Body Glove: When the beach arrived | Past Lookbacks
• Clemente siblings: good taste times four
• Pictures: Get the sun-kissed look for summer
• Weekly obsessions: Memorial Day barbecue essentials
• The Image Photo Booth: Grace Slick’s White Rabbit Art and Tea Party
• All the Rage: The Image section’s blog
  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

Rubber soles mold from the past on display at the Vans headquarter in Cypress.

A rubber-soles mold from yesteryear is on display at the Vans headquarters in Cypress.

More in Image:
• Neon fashions turn it up for summer | Photos
• Vans shoes: a happily checkered past | Photos
• Lookback: Robin Piccone and Body Glove: When the beach arrived | Past Lookbacks
• Clemente siblings: good taste times four
• Pictures: Get the sun-kissed look for summer
• Weekly obsessions: Memorial Day barbecue essentials
• The Image Photo Booth: Grace Slick’s White Rabbit Art and Tea Party
• All the Rage: The Image section’s blog
  (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

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