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Worse on Purpose

Vans

American skate shoe brand, originally from Anaheim, California.

Status: Watchlist
Founded
1966
Website
vans.com
HQ
USA
Manufacturing
Vietnam,China,Various
Ownership type
Conglomerate subsidiary
Parent
VF Corporation
Acquired
2004

Ownership

Acquired by VF Corporation in 2004. Sister brand to the VF backpack portfolio (JanSport, North Face, Eastpak, Kipling).

Why Watchlist

VF Corporation ownership. Core skate heritage increasingly diluted by fashion-tier product.

Sister brands under VF Corporation

See all 8 sister brands

Read the full investigation

Investigation · March 23, 2026

Your Backpack Got Worse On Purpose

VF Corporation owns about 55% of the US backpack market. JanSport, The North Face, Eastpak, Kipling. Lower denier counts, generic zippers, warranties rewritten to match the cheaper construction.

Read the full investigation

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