Converse

Converse is a Boston-based company owned by NIKE, Inc. Since 1908, the Marquis Mills Converse-founded brand has been producing high-quality, rubber-infused products.

In its earliest days, the North American institution manufactured footwear under the Converse Rubber Shoe Company name. By 1915, the manufacturer had begun creating athletic shoes for men, women, and children, but its turning-point arrived in 1917 with the launch of the All Star basketball shoe. Today, the silhouette is known as the Chuck Taylor All Star in honor of Charles Hollis “Chuck” Taylor, a basketball player-turned-salesman and ambassador, who joined the brand in 1923. Following successful promotion and impressive sales figures, Taylor's signature was added to the high-top sneaker's design in 1932.

Throughout the next 70 years, the Malden, Massachusetts-founded manufacturer dominated the professional basketball scene, receiving much attention throughout the 1960s for its custom pairs for the first all-African American team, the New York Renaissance. Furthermore, Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points against the New York Knicks in 1962 shun the spotlight on the Chucks, the Philadelphia Warriors center's shoe of choice. Other notable contributions in the performance-basketball space included: One Star (1974), Pro Leather (1976), Starion (1984), and “The Weapon” (1986), among other models. In 2019, the brand unveiled its modern-day foray into performance basketball with the All Star Pro BB, which is commonly worn by current Phoenix Suns forward Kelly Oubre Jr.; the G4 – a silhouette inspired by the ERX-260 (1988) – debuted in April 2020 after first being unveiled alongside Draymond Green's signing with The One Star Brand.

Away from the hardwood, the company has produced protective, rubberized gear for the military; the badminton-inspired Jack Purcell; and dozens of other athletic-shoes adopted for casual wear. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, the Chuck Taylor All Star was worn among several anti-establishment groups, be they fans of the Ramones, Kurt Cobain shoe and The Clash or of Los Angeles' growing hip-hop scene in the '80s. Skateboarders also gravitated towards the One Star, which gave the sneaker a second-life after losing its popularity among basketball players. Since being bought by NIKE, Inc. in 2003, Converse has nodded to its relevance in the lifestyle space by modifying several models within its catalog, most notably the Chuck 70. Additionally, the North American-company has tapped collaborators the likes of COMME des GARÇONS PLAY, Tyler, The Creator, Carhartt WIP, Fear Of God, and KITH to deliver fashion-forward takes for everyday life.

Shopping Links

Converse

A-COLD-WALL Dresses A Third Converse Chuck 70 In “Pavement”

From Tyler The Creator’s GOLF le FLEUR to Stussy, Rick Owens and UNDEFEATED, Converse has become a frequent space for experimental collaborators. After partnering with...

By Jared Ebanks July 29, 2023
1162

ADER ERROR’s Converse Chuck 70 Collaboration Releases Globally On August 1st

Several of the most notable fashion labels of the last few years were born right in the heart of South Korea. ADER ERROR, for example,...

By Michael Le July 25, 2023
2717

Tyler, the Creator’s GOLF le FLEUR Reunites With Converse For The Chuck 70 “Digital Leopard” Pack

Much like his sound, Tyler, the Creator‘s personal style has evolved dramatically over the course of the last decade. His collaborative efforts, too, have followed...

By Michael Le July 13, 2023
10269

A-COLD-WALL* And Converse Team Up For Two Tonal Chuck 70s

Samuel Ross has lent his creativity to NIKE, Inc. over the last handful of years. Before the English designer and the Swoosh reveal a collection...

By Jovani Hernandez July 6, 2023
3805

Stussy Teams Up With Our Legacy For Three Overdyed Converse Chuck 70s

During the Fall of 2021, Stussy and Our Legacy Work Shop ushered in their first collaborative collection. Marrying the aesthetics of both labels, the capsule...

By Michael Le June 27, 2023
3685

UNDEFEATED’s Next Collaboration, The Converse Weapon, Revealed During Paris Fashion Week

After delivering a four-piece of patent leather clad Air Force 1s in late 2022, UNDEFEATED is ready to move its next chess piece in the...

By Sneaker News June 24, 2023
3027

Converse Adds A Chunky Lug Sole To The Chuck 70

Despite being the icon that it is, the Chuck 70 is not at all exempt from Converse’s experiments. But thankfully, the brand has kept it...

By Michael Le June 11, 2023
2572

Michael Jordan’s Earliest Documented Game-Worn Sneakers Are Up For Auction

Before he would receive his own eponymous signature line with Nike, Michael Jordan donned many an equally iconic piece of footwear: the Air Ship, the...

By Michael Le June 5, 2023
2062

Rick Owens Brings “Hot Pink” And “Dust” Looks To The Converse DRKSHDW TURBODRK

Rick Owens and Converse are linking up again on two pairs of the laceless DRKSHDW TURBODRK high-top. Previously, the partnership covered updated versions of the...

By Jovani Hernandez May 11, 2023
2137