The iconic Converse All Star Chuck Taylor

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The Converse All Star was born in 1917 within the American company Converse Rubber Shoe Company, which was based in Massachusetts at the time. It is worth noting that Converse is a company created by Marquis Mills Converse in 1908, whose main business was manufacturing sports shoes. In its first version, the Converse shoe was made of brown and then black canvas.

This sports shoe then evolved with a new design that took into account the advice of basketball player Chuck Taylor – hence the name of the eponymous model – in order to practice his sport under optimal conditions. The modifications made by the athlete allowed the shoe to better meet the requirements of playing basketball. Welcome to the original form of the Converse Chuck Taylor! In 1930, the player’s name appeared for the first time on the shoe, marking the first collaboration between an athlete/sports name and a brand. It wasn’t until 1932 that Chuck Taylor’s name appeared on the star logo on the inside of the shoe. As a side note, Chuck Taylor, after his basketball career, became an iconic salesman for Converse! He worked there from 1921 to 1968.

A Non-Slip Rubber Sole That Has Stood the Test of Time

Originally, the Converse Rubber Shoe Company produced fur-lined boots with rubber soles (nothing to do with the famous Ugg boots). Marquis Mills, the creator of the company, was inspired by his mother’s maiden name, “Converse,” and decided to manufacture a “new” shoe with a non-slip rubber sole… And that’s how Converse was born! In 1910, a pair of the famous sneakers cost $5. During World War II, Converse supplied boots to the American army. In 1970, the company acquired the rights to manufacture the Jack Purcell model, which became a flagship product. Converse All Star took center stage at the 1984 Winter Olympics, held in Los Angeles, as the main sponsor. It was during this decade (1980-1990) that Converse multiplied its sports associations and collaborations with major tennis and basketball players (the brand’s two reference sports), such as Jimmy Connors, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson.

Converse: The International Fashion Phenomenon

If you ask Google about the “most sold sneakers/basketball shoes in the world,” you will see the famous Converse All Star canvas sneakers. This is not surprising, as the brand is present in over 160 countries and sells 3 pairs every second worldwide.

Over the past century, the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star and the One Star have gone from basketball courts and tennis courts to being worn by everyone. This unisex sneaker adorns the feet of children, parents, and grandparents alike. The iconic shoe gained recognition by first entering the world of cinema, as seen in the film West Side Story, Back to the Future, and more recently, Harry Potter. The Converse All Star is also the shoe of choice for rockers, worn by Elvis, the Rolling Stones, Kurt Cobain, and Blondie. Younger artists continue to wear them in their music videos or on stage, such as Avril Lavigne, Green Day, and even Lady Gaga, whose current look consists of a white t-shirt, mini denim shorts, and a pair of Converse sneakers. Of course, the legendary Converse sneakers can also be found in TV series, from The A-Team to Riverdale and House. The sneakers even make an appearance in certain video games, worn by Ellie Williams, the protagonist of The Last of Us.

Who can boast having a song written for their 100th anniversary? Once again, Converse achieved this with “My Drive Thru,” composed and performed by Pharell Williams, N.E.R.D, Santigold, and Julian Casablancas. That’s quite something!

Editor’s note: Converse = Nike… After years of development, the company faced financial difficulties in 2002. Nike then acquired Converse for €269 million in 2003.

Converse Models: From the Chuck Taylor All Star to Customized Converse

If there is one sports shoe that has always been able to adapt and evolve, it is undoubtedly Converse. Since its creation, Converse has been endlessly reinvented to become a complete range of models, including the Classic Chuck, Chuck 70, Jack Purcell, One Star, Varvatos Jack, Skateboarding, and Counter Climate. Today, the Converse All Star is available in four different versions: high-top, low-top, platform, and boots. It is also adorned with a variety of patterns and colors, from fluorescent to leopard print, checkerboard, and even rose gold. The materials used are also diverse, including leather, suede, durable materials, and canvas. The sole has sometimes been made tiny or even platform or heeled at one point… Converse is a bit like a walking chameleon, with as many models as there are feet on Earth! Moreover, the brand now offers the option to customize your own pair online, allowing everyone to follow their own trends and desires. Of course, vintage models are still popular and are regularly reissued by the brand. Converse also collaborates with major haute couture or iconic brands. For example, we have seen Missoni dress the star-studded sneaker with its famous zigzag pattern, and Margiela cover it in paint. The brand Comme des Garçons put its heart into its collaboration with Converse by adding its logo to the canvas and sole of the iconic model. Finally, Virgil Abloh dressed the pair with a transparent upper, revealing the shoe’s seams…

Becoming an icon of urban culture, the Converse All Star Chuck Taylor and all its variations are still going strong. Straddling the line between sports shoes and casual footwear, Converse’s clean look and legendary design resonate with other iconic brands like VEJA.