Third Annual Nationwide Vans Custom Culture Contest Inspires Creativity, Awards $50,000 Prize to Support Arts in Schools

Vans encourages high school students to compete in the Vans Custom Culture project to design their own Vans shoes, inspiring them to embrace their creativity through art while raising awareness of diminishing school art budgets.

CYPRESS, Calif., Jan. 25, 2012  -- February 1, 2012, Vans Custom Culture national registration opens to all U.S.-based high school art programs, accepting the first 1,000 registrant schools into this year's competition. Schools will be chosen to advance first by an internal Vans ® team and then, in later stages, by public voting through the Vans Custom Culture website. The five schools with the most votes will earn the chance to showcase their designs at the Vans Custom Culture final event, to be held in Los Angeles this May.

Entering its third year, Vans Custom Culture has already inspired tens of thousands of students at more than 700 participating schools. Last year's contest culminated in Vans awarding $50,000 toward the art programs at Ward Melville High School (Long Island, NY). Melville was one of five schools that earned trips to the New York City showcase last year, based on more than 180,000 online votes. Students at Rio Rancho High School (Rio Rancho, NM) won the grand prize in 2010.

Vans believes in the power of art in schools not only as a creative outlet, but also as an important educational component. "Not only are the number of jobs based in creative skills growing, but developing and exercising inherent creativity nurtures traits applicable in nearly any career path," said Doug Palladini, Vans' Vice President of Marketing. "Vans aims to support art programs and help fight budget cuts that are all too common by inspiring students to embrace their creativity, while also educating communities at large about the importance of art in the schools."

Mirroring the brand's ideals of originality and creative expression, Vans Custom Culture encourages students to express their personal creativity through customizing four favorite Vans® canvas styles: the Authentic, 106 Vulcanized, Sk8-Hi and Classic Slip-On. Students are charged with designing each pair of shoes to fit within one of three themes representing the Vans® lifestyle: action sports, art or music or a fourth "local flavor" theme that reflects regional inspiration.

To further awareness, Vans has created a student and teacher-friendly social media network for the Custom Culture contest, allowing the public and participants to download official applications and rules, interactively engage in the process and stay updated on happenings from the Vans Custom Culture team.

For more details, visit the Vans Custom Culture platforms:
Website: http://www.vans.com/customculture/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vanscustomculture
Twitter: @vans_66 #vanscustomculture

About Vans
Vans, the original action sports footwear and apparel company, is a brand of VF Corporation. Vans® collections include authentic footwear, apparel and accessories, snowboard boots and the Pro-tec line of protective gear and are sold in the United States through more than 250 company-owned stores as well as independent retailers. Internationally, Vans sells its goods in approximately 70 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and foreign offices. Vans promotes action sports lifestyle and youth culture through support of athletes on boards and bikes all over the globe and through progressive events such as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing®, the Vans Downtown Showdown, the Pro-tec Pool Party and the Vans Warped Tour®.

SOURCE Vans