#27: Spicoli’s checkerboard Vans sparked a massive surge in sales
Jeff Spicoli’s laid-back surfer look included a pair of checkerboard Vans that became instantly iconic. The shoes were featured not only throughout the film but also on the cover of the Fast Times soundtrack, giving the brand unexpected visibility at a moment when it wasn’t yet a cultural staple outside skate circles.
According to Steve Van Doren, the company had no idea the film would become such a windfall. After Fast Times hit theaters, Vans sold “millions” of the checkerboard slip-ons worn by Sean Penn. What began as a character-detailing wardrobe choice ended up helping turn the pattern into one of the brand’s most recognizable designs.