June 11, 2025
VANS STYLE 44 • The Authentic
"When authenticity trumps belonging, belonging always wins" — unless you have a strong base to build on and don't need the outside validation to know your worth.
Before skateparks and brand deals, before streetwear and sneaker drops — there was the Vans Style 44 Deck Shoe. Born in 1966 on a patch of Anaheim pavement, it wasn’t built to make a scene. It was built to last, Canvas upper, rubber sole, flat and simple, functional and honest.
Then the skaters found it. The grippy gum sole stuck to grip tape like it was made for it — because, in a way, it was. Not by design, but by fate. It became the uniform of those exploring the world on their skateboard — not as it was, but as it could be ridden and enjoyed in their own way.
Over the years, the name changed — the Style 44 became the Authentic — with the same soul as before. No puffed-up silhouettes. No need to evolve for fashion’s sake. The Authentic doesn’t chase attention. It earned respect over the years and is here to stay. It’s the kind of shoe that doesn’t age — it accumulates stories. And that’s heritage you can feel under your feet.
Rob has always stood firm in who he is. With the new Vans Style 44 Drop hitting the store, we sat down to talk shop — not just about shoes, but about staying true. He pulled out some of his old, beat-up pairs, stories stitched into every scuff. It’s clear Vans still gets it — no compromises, no gimmicks, just history and grit.
