Custom Vans

Several of you have asked if we can customize your Vans with a one of a kind 168 graphic. One of the unique things about 168 is that a tattoo is yours and yours alone. Been in that kind of shop with all the generic tattoo designs? That's not us. At 168, the tattoo design you get is all about YOU, and only you.

Want your 168 Tattoo on a pair of Vans - you got it.

Want a custom design for your custom-made Vans - you got it.

Custom designs are $50, plus the cost of the Vans. 

And just like your tattoo, your Vans will last for-evah!

email us at rick168tattoo@gmail.com

Vans and 168

In 1966, brothers Paul and James Van Doren alongside Gordon Lee and Serge D’Elia opened the first Vans store in Anaheim, California under the name The Van Doren Rubber Company.

Initially, the brothers manufactured the shoes themselves, selling them directly to the public. On their first day in business, the company only had display models in stock, so when customers picked out their Vans, they were asked to come back that same afternoon to pick up their purchase.

Paul and Lee had to then head to the factory to fabricate the shoes, 12 pairs to be exact. The customers came back to the store later in the day to pick up their Vans, but the store didn’t have any change. The Vans team, who were in no position to turn down customers, gave out the shoes and asked the customers to return the following day with their payments – all twelve did so.

The three styles sold in '66 retailed for $2.49 and $4.99 at the time. Wow.

While Vans diversified over the years, was gobbled up by manufacturing giants and then spit back out, the company continues to have a growing share of the market, now manufacturing clothing as well and sponsoring events like the Warped Tour and extreme sporting events like the Vans Triple Crown.

Every old-school surfer dude, like this writer, rotates through his Chucks and his Vans, but now, thanks to 168 and tattoo artist Rick Fichter, there’s a new Van in town!

  

For a limited time only, you can get one of Rick Fichter’s tattoo graphics on a pair of specially designed Vans that pair the iconic flair of original Vans and the artistry of 168’s Rick Fichter.

If you are interested in ordering a pair, send an email to 168 at rick168tattoo@gmail.com and 168 will respond within 24 hours. The 168-styled vans as shown are $125.00. 

Tell Me Honestly That You Don't Need These!

Calligraphy

As we get better and more consistent with our postings, 168 wants to remain entertaining and informative. Below you’ll find the first in a series of video posts on the Tattoo process. One of the first things a tattoo artist needs to master is lettering, essentially creating a style that’s all his own. My style has a west coast vibe to it, reminiscent of the Chicano still prevalent in L.A. The Sailor Jerry style is quite different (having a Polynesian flair with Navy traditional), and New York style has a harder edge to it. I’ll post Part 2 mañana.  

What's playing in the shop...

There is no band that says more about the motorcycle scene of the 1960s than Steppenwolf. Quintessentially American, it may surprise most people that the band’s founder, John Kay wasn’t American at all. Born in East Prussia, Germany at the end of World War II, Kay grew up trapped behind the iron curtain. His first distinct memory is a daring nighttime escape with his mother to West Germany; where later he was profoundly affected by the American rock 'n' roll he heard on U.S. Armed Forces Radio. Though he didn't speak English at the time, the music's primal energy touched something deep in him, instilling both a driving ideal of personal freedom and an abiding interest in American culture. In 1958 he immigrated to Canada and continued his love affair with music, performing as a folk and blues singer throughout North America before joining the rock band The Sparrow which became part of the scene happening in Toronto’s Yorkville, later, San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury and finally L.A.’s Sunset Strip. There, in 1967, Kay formed Steppenwolf, which quickly became one of the world’s foremost rock n’ roll bands releasing such standards as "Born to Be Wild," "Magic Carpet Ride”, songs which catapulted the band into international prominence and which today stand amongst Rock's most indelible anthems. Other classics include powerful songs like “The Pusher” and “Snow Blind Friend” and “Monster.”   

K-Mart Fog Lights

Rick Fichter; In the quest to dot all the i’s and cross the t’s, finding period correct cool headlights is always a challenge. I should say, finding the originals is easy; finding cool ones is hard. So, at the swap meet me and the Mrs., and my boy big ray went on a quest, a vision quest of sorts. Digging through boxes of automotive lights that won’t work, finding some great 6 volt ones that, without redoing the electrical config would be a royal pain in the ass, I was deep down looking for a good set of fog lights.

The bike gods had my back. Not only did I find these vintage K Mart fog lamps with this rad amber lens, (totally illegal, what they hay), but I was sweatin’ ‘em from the minute I saw them. “Uhh, how much for the tractor lights,” wanting to seem like I knew what I’d found. My number, 50 bucks tops. “How ‘bout twelve,” he says. I’m a pretty cool cuke on the outside. “Hmmm; take ten?”

“Sure Boss,” he says. Holy shit, a double-finsky. I pick up a few other parts for the dyna, 16 inch apes, don’t need them but 30 bucks brand new, a vintage hatchet 1800s blacksmith; count this day a success! Fuck yeah. 

And Leah Score Too! Got the Perfect Spot For It.