Converse – Basketball sneakers, streetwear & luxury brands
Converse – Just like Adidas, Asics and Nike, Converse is also one of the most well-known brands in the sports industry. In 1917, Marquis Converse designed his first sneaker, the All Star, originally intended as a pure basketball shoe. He probably didn’t think that this shoe would become one of the world’s most popular models. Today, designer labels like J.W.Anderson or Dior print their logos on the iconic Chuck Taylor, thereby elevating it to a timeless trend shoe. You can read the story about the brand that made the leap from a gym shoe to a cult brand here. Or you can read more about other fashion brands in our style guide.
The History of Converse: The Shoe of Basketball
In 1908, Marquis Converse founded the ‘Converse Rubber Shoe Company’ in Malden, Massachusetts. Initially specializing in winter boots, the company designed the first sneaker, the Converse All-Star, in 1917. This ankle-high model made of black canvas with a rubber sole and plastic toe cap revolutionized basketball. In 1923, basketball legend Chuck Taylor signed the sneaker’s logo and gave it its unforgettable name.
Chuck Taylor for Converse
Chuck Taylor may not have had a spectacular basketball career, but his passion for the sport was limitless. From this passion came the All-Star model, one of the most well-known shoes worldwide. In the 1920s, the improved version of the original model hit the market thanks to the collaboration between Marquis Mills Converse and Charles “Chuck” Taylor. Basketball was not yet popular at the time, but Chuck wanted to change that and found a unique way to do so.
His Love for Basketball
As a basketball player, Chuck Taylor understood the game technique and the needs of players. Therefore, he set out to develop and promote a custom-made basketball shoe model. His commitment went far beyond that of an ordinary salesperson or marketer. Chuck traveled across the USA to explain the game technique and promote the Converse All Star sneakers. His fame and popularity were so great that the shoes were more commonly associated with his name than with the Converse brand. To this day, they are still called “Chucks”.
In 1936, basketball was officially recognized as an Olympic discipline, and Converse equipped the American team with his Chuck. And with that, the sneaker had already secured its iconic status.
Through competition to new success
In den 60er-Jahren trat ein neuer Endgegner in Form des Nike Air Jordan in das Basketballsegment ein. Nicht nur war Michael Jordan einer der besten Basketballspieler aller Zeiten, auch war Nike eine bereits etablierte Sportmarke, die jedem bekannt war. Dennoch war das Ende der Basketballära für Converse nicht nur negativ. Was in den Jahren darauf folgte, wurde zu einem wichtigen Meilenstein in der Geschichte der Marke.
Einschlag in die Popkultur
Die Converse All Star Sneakers sind nicht nur stylisch, universell und bequem, sondern haben auch “dieses mysteriöse Etwas”, das sie zu einer Ikone der Popkultur macht. Sie wurden von Rocklegenden wie Robert Plant und Kurt Cobain getragen und waren ein Symbol des Widerstands für Anarchisten und Punks wie die Ramones und Sex Pistols.
From team colors to youth movement
Another turning point came in 1971, when Converse first introduced colored canvas shoes to the market, giving college teams and fans the opportunity to show their affiliation. These colors made the All-Star a symbol of self-expression for the youth. Over time, the shoe became associated with individualism and countercultures and became the preferred choice of punks in the 1970s, metalheads in the 1980s, and the grunge scene in the 1990s.
The Converse ‘Chuck Taylor’ All Star:
In 2001, Converse finally shut down all factories in the USA and moved production to sweatshops in Asia. Two years later, the company was sold to sportswear manufacturer Nike for 305 million dollars. In 2008, the company based in Massachusetts celebrated its 100th anniversary with the Converse Century Collection.
Stars in Converse
Since its introduction, Chucks have been worn by numerous celebrities. In the 1950s, James Dean wore them, and in the late 1970s, John Travolta in “Grease.” In the 1990s, they became part of the heroin chic, as shown by Kate Moss or Kurt Cobain. Through designer collaborations, they gained new popularity and became the most affordable sneaker for international influencers and street style stars. Recently, Converse introduced the 70 Hi with an upcycling system made from organic cotton and canvas.
Here’s a short overview:
- 1917: first Converse sneaker
- 1923: Chuck Taylor signature
- 1936: Converse supplies basketball teams
- 1960s: Nike Air Jordan replaces Converse
- 1970s: Converse dominates pop culture
- 1971: first colored Converse
- 2001: Converse moves production to Asia
- 2003: brand sold for 305 million dollars to Nike
Converse’ Trademark
Converse shoes are absolute design classics. The typical white cap and the round logo make the models unique compared to other shoe manufacturers. Converse relies on tradition and so the Converse All Star has not changed in shape and material since its creation. Only in terms of color or decorations does Converse offer everything the heart desires, from sequins, flowers, plaids, over graffiti, to monochrome variants.
True fans of the brand love their Converse only when they look really worn in. Thus, the brand has meanwhile developed from a basketball shoe to an everyday all-rounder. The popular Chuck’s are not only worn with jeans, but also with suits.
The most popular collaborations of Converse
Because the Converse is one of the most well-known and popular shoes ever, the number of collaboration requests is unimaginably high. From luxury brands over streetwear brands to series and various other brands, there is really something for everyone who is interested. In the following you can get to know the most famous collaborations in more detail.
Converse x Christian Dior
Few sneakers have generated as much buzz in recent years as the Dior Converse B23. For many luxury designer brands, it has always been difficult to enter the sneaker market with their own sneakers. This was different with Kim Jones, who has been Creative Director at Dior since 2018. Instead of designing new, ‘over-designed’ sneakers himself, he stuck to well-known and already established sneaker models and gave them only the “Dior touch”. In the summer of 2019, Dior then released their first Converse and the rest is history.
The first Converse Dior B23:
JW Anderson for Converse
The Converse Chuck 70 is close to being regarded as the perfect sneaker. The shoe is a tougher, more comfortable version of the original basketball sneaker, the Chuck Taylor All-Star. Over the years, the shoe has become a favorite of Loewe and JW Anderson designer Jonathan Anderson.
After embellishing the Chuck 70 with felt, glitter, or crosswise logos for several seasons, Anderson decided to tear it apart. He removed the thin rubber sole from the bottom and instead fitted a bulky, curved sole, borrowed from the Converse Run Star. According to Converse, the shoe is a tribute to remix or mash-up culture: combining two unequal parts into something new that still feels familiar.
The latest sneaker from the collaboration with JW Anderson:
Converse x Comme des Garcons “Heart Sneaker”
Although the CdG PLAY x Converse Chuck 70 isn’t the most attention-grabbing CdG sneaker collaboration of all time, it’s definitely the choice for the most popular one. Officially the fourth time the Japanese label has collaborated with Converse, it decided to build upon the previous iteration of the CdG PLAY x Converse Chuck Taylor.
This time around, the PLAY design team chose the All Star Chuck 70 as their canvas. The ultra-minimalist philosophy of the Chuck Taylor gives way to a significantly enlarged heart logo behind the midsole. Unlike other collaborations, the Chuck 70 is released every year to meet the high demand for this popular silhouette.
Here is the legendary CDG Play All Star sneaker:
Rick Owens’ Love for Converse
For his first collaboration with Converse, Rick Owens reimagines the popular Chuck ’70 in a high-top and low-top version. With this collaboration, a circle is closed for the designer, as the already mentioned Ramones were actually Owens’ interpretation of the iconic Converse silhouette.
Owens’ version of the Chuck 70 – called DRKSHDW “TRBODRK” – features a triple toe cap and a double sole. The sneaker has a durable canvas upper and co-branding details on the tongue and heel. Both color variations are available in limited quantities at the Highsnobiety Shop.
The Rick Owens “TRBODRK”:
FAQ about Converse:
Here you’ll find the most common questions online:
Are Chucks made by Converse?
- The “Chuck Taylor,” named after the basketball player, is the signature sneaker of Converse.
Are Chucks breathable?
- When dry, Chucks are breathable and wind-resistant. On the other hand, the fabric takes up colors well when printed and barely fades even after prolonged use. Wearers of the trendy Chucks thus benefit for a long time from the modern, timeless look.
Which Converse models are there?
- Classic Chuck 244
- Chuck 70 74
- Limited Edition 11
- Custom 53
- Jack Purcell 5
- Skateboarding 7
- Platform 112
Brands similar to Converse
Below you will find articles about brands that are similar to Converse. From shoe giants to collaborations.
Converse Videos
Take a look at interesting collections and campaigns in our Converse video article.
Nike / Nike Videos
Einer der Schuhgiganten der Mode und Sportszene, schlechthin. Nike war ein langer Konkurrent und letztlich auch die Ablösung des “Go-To” Basketballsneakers dieser Zeit. Ebenfalls ist Nike ein häufiger Kollaborationspartner vieler Designer, sowie Streetwear Marken. Schau dir alles zu Nike genauer in unseren Beiträgen zur Marke Nike an.
Asics / Asics Videos
Ebenfalls ein Riese in der Sportmodeszene ist die Marke Asics. Zwar bedient sich nicht den Basketball, sondern den Laufsport, aber auch sie schaffte den Sprung von beliebter Sportmarke zu beliebter Streetwear Marke. Auch ist Asics ein bekannter Partner für die verschiedensten Kollaborationen mit Luxusmarken oder anderen Marken. In unseren Beiträgen zu Asics erfährst du mehr über die Geschichte und die vielen Schuhe.
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