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 then based in Massachusetts.
It’s worth noting that Converse was founded by Marquis Mills Converse in 1908, specializing primarily in manufacturing sports shoes.
In its first version, the Converse was made of brown canvas, followed by black.

This sports shoe then evolved, with a new design that incorporated the advice of basketball player Chuck Taylor – hence the name of the eponymous model – to practice the sport under optimal conditions. The modifications made by the athlete allowed the shoe to better meet the demands related to basketball. Welcome to the original Converse Chuck Taylor!
In 1930, the player’s name appeared for the first time on the sneaker, marking the first collaboration between an athlete and a brand.
It wasn’t until 1932 that Chuck Taylor’s name appeared on the star patch on the inner side of the shoe.
For the record, after his basketball career, Chuck Taylor became a legendary salesman for Converse! He worked there from 1921 to 1968.

A Slip-Resistant Rubber Sole That Transcends History

Originally, the Converse Rubber Shoe Company made fur-lined boots with rubber soles (nothing to do with the famous Ugg). Marquis Mills, the company’s creator, was inspired by his mother’s young daughter’s name “Converse” and decided to create a “new” shoe with a slip-resistant rubber sole… This is how Converse was born!
In 1910, a pair of these famous sneakers cost $5.
During World War II, Converse supplied boots to the American army.
In 1970, the company obtained the rights to manufacture the now-iconic Jack Purcell model. Converse All Star took over the 1984 Winter Olympics held in Los Angeles as the main sponsor. It was during this decade (1980 – 1990) that Converse multiplied its 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 in the world?”, the famous Converse All Star canvas pair will pop up. It’s no surprise, as the brand is present in over 160 countries, selling 3 pairs every second worldwide.

Over a century, the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star and the One Star have transitioned from basketball courts and other tennis courts to the feet of everyone. This unisex sneaker fits the feet of children, parents, and grandparents alike. The iconic shoe gained its noble status by first entering the world of cinema, as seen in films like West Side Story, Back to the Future, and more recently, Harry Potter.
The Converse All Star is also the shoe of rockers… Worn by Elvis, the Rolling Stones, Kurt Cobain, and Blondie. Younger artists continue to embrace it in their music videos or on stage, like Avril Lavigne, Green Day, and Lady Gaga, whose current look consists of a white t-shirt over a mini jean short and ONE pair of Converse.
Of course, the legendary pair of Converse can also be seen in TV shows: from The A-Team to Riverdale, and even Dr. House. The sneaker even appears in some video games, worn by Ellie Williams, the protagonist of The Last of Us.

Who can boast of having a song for their 100th anniversary? Once again, Converse with “My Drive Thru,” composed and performed by Pharrell Williams, N.E.R.D, Santigold, and Julian Casablancas. Just that!

Note: Converse = Nike… After years of development, in 2002, the company faced financial difficulties. It was Nike that acquired Converse for 269 million euros in 2003.

Converse Models: From All Star Chuck Taylor to Customized Converse

If there is one sports shoe that has always known how to adapt and evolve, it is indeed Converse. Since its creation, Converse has been endlessly diversified into a complete range of models including: the Classic Chuck, Chuck 70, Jack Purcell, One Star, Varvatos, Jack, Skateboarding, Counter Climate… 
Today available in 4 different versions: high-tops, low-tops, platforms, or boots, the Converse All Star also comes adorned with patterns and colors of all kinds: from neon to leopard, checkerboard to rose gold. 
The same goes for materials, including leather, suede, sustainable materials, and canvas; and for the sole, which has sometimes been made tiny or even platformed or heeled at one point… Converse is a bit like a pedestrian chameleon, with as many models as there are feet on the planet! 
Moreover, today the brand offers the option to customize your own pair online, keeping up with the trends and individual desires. 
Of course, vintage models still sell well and are regularly reissued by the brand. 
Converse also represents collaborations with major high-fashion or iconic brands. For instance, we saw Missoni dress the star sneaker in its famous zig-zag knit; or Margiela cover it in paint. The brand Comme des Garçons put its heart into its collaboration with Converse, applying its logo on the canvas and sole of the iconic model. Lastly, Virgil Abloh outfitted the pair with a transparent upper, revealing the shoe’s seams…

Having become an icon of urban culture, the Converse All Star Chuck Taylor and all its variations are far from finished walking. Halfway between a sports shoe and a city shoe, Converse, with its clean look and iconic line, resonates with other iconic brands like VEJA.