Vans Knows You’re Sick of Their Shoes

Until recently, Vans sneakers seemed to sell themselves.

The skateboarding shoe brand reported double-digit growth every year between 2004, when VF Corp. acquired the brand for $396 million, and 2019. As soon as the popularity of one of its five signature styles began to slip, another would be elevated to take its place; the era of canvas Slip-Ons seamlessly flowed into the age of Old Skools.

That charmed run came to an abrupt halt during the…