Concepts Honors The Roots Of Basketball With A Converse “Southern Flame” Collaboration

It’s no secret that basketball (and some of its best athletes) has enjoyed widespread, global attention for decades. What’s perhaps lesser known, however, is the game’s birthplace, which has inspired Concepts‘ latest collaboration with Converse.

In 1891, Dr. James Naismith pitched what’s become basketball to the students he was teaching at a YMCA in Springfield, MA. Less injury-prone than the ever-popular football and playable indoors, the game utilized two peach baskets for Naismith’s earliest “goals.” The capsule’s included Chuck 70 boasts an orange and red gradient across its platinum suede upper as a nod to the fruit’s fuzzy surface. The modern-All Star BB EVO‘s “Shadow Lime” and “Green Oasis” colorway also draws from the southern-grown fruit, but evokes the peach’s coloring before it becomes ripe. Furthermore, the Boston-based brand’s newer foray into performance-basketball dons a peach blossom print visible on sockliner and translucent outsole, courtesy of Concepts.

Enjoy a first-look at the “Southern Flame” duo here below, and find pairs available at Converse.com, Concepts and select global retailers on January 28th.

For more from NIKE, Inc., check out the Air Jordan 3 “Rust Pink” set to launch before 2021 ends.

UPDATED 1/25/2021:
If you’re looking to pick up either pair from the Concepts x Converse “Southern Flame” capsule, early access will be given to Concepts App users tomorrow (1/26).

Images: Nike News