Vans, the shoe company beloved by skaters and fashion influencers alike, has recently landed itself in some hot water.
In a shocking viral video posted on Instagram and TikTok by Sophia Schiaroli, the founder of Gay Girls+, a large pile of supposedly brand-new Vans shoes can be seen strewn on the sidewalk in front of a Vans store in Philadelphia. Upon closer inspection, the shoes appear to have been deliberately slashed and damaged by Vans store employees to the point that it is no longer wearable.
In the video which has amassed over 2 million views on TikTok, Schiaroli shares her frustration with Vans for not only tossing numerous pairs of what seem to be perfectly fine shoes in the garbage but also slashing them so that no one can wear them. Schiaroli says that Vans could have donated the shoes to people in need.
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“All stores do this with merchandise they “can’t” sell for whatever reason. They destroy it and dump it. It’s so sad tbh. America is so wasteful,” says one Instagram user.
“So many people in Philly could have benefited from these shoes. I’m so disappointed and won’t be shopping there anymore,” comments another.
“Why did the shoes NEED to be destroyed? Is it that hard to be decent & not inhumane money-driven?” asks an Instagram user.
“So in 2023 we’re still slashing good shoes that could have gone to people in need? Or put them in discount? What you’re doing is 🤮🤮🤮🤮,” expresses an Instagram user.
In response to the backlash, Vans responded with a statement: “Vans will always prioritize the donation of useable products to those in need. After investigating the situation at our Walnut St. location, we have confirmed that these products were deemed unsafe to donate. That said, we are actively revisiting our retail protocols to ensure that products are properly recycled.”
