Rebellion in a Box

Skateboard culture outgrew its niche and entered the mainstream years ago – just look at the popularity of the annual X-Games for one example. But true physical proof of this growing phenomenon is near at hand. Well, more like near at foot. Skate shoes have been at the forefront of low-top sneaker fashion for decades.

Vans, one popular brand of skate shoes that crossed over into other markets, became closely associated with punk rock in the late 1970s. Suddenly, youth were wearing skate shoes for their stylish appearance and not just for practical purposes. Kids who had never rolled an inch on a skateboard adopted the shoes as their own sign of rebellion. To this day, skate shoes make a statement – whether they’re worn while shredding down the asphalt or walking through a shopping mall.