Converse
Converse was founded by Massachusetts businessman Marquis Mills Converse. He created the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in February 1908, and on April 30, 1909, debuted the company’s first pair of rubber galoshes. It wasn’t until the mid-1910s that Converse entered the athletic market. To cater to the new but growing sport of basketball, it created the Non-Skid shoe, which in 1919 would be renamed the All-Star and eventually evolve into the Chuck Taylor All-Star (named after one of its most devoted salesmen and ambassadors).
The history of Converse is deeply intertwined with the sport of basketball. By 1955, Chucks were the No. 1 basketball shoe in America and the brand owned 80 percent of the entire sneaker industry. Throughout the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, its sneakers were worn by the majority of pro and college teams, including legendary players like Dr. J, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan (before signing his deal with Nike). Speaking of the Swoosh, Converse was acquired by Nike on Sept. 4, 2003, for $305 million. Though Converse shoes are no longer a staple of basketball courts, they’ve become synonymous with youth culture — and counterculture — worn by artists and musicians across the globe.
Converse
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Reveals a Blacked-Out Version of His Converse Sneaker
The Converse Chai 001 "Charm Black" was made for his mother.
Converse and Kenzo Bring Back 1980s Fashion With Their First-Ever Collaboration
Three colorways are featured in the collection.
Converse Has New Sneaker Loafers — But the Brand Isn’t New to the Trend
The Chuck Taylor All Star meets the penny loafer.
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History of Team USA Basketball Uniforms at the Olympics: Silk Short Shorts, Dream Team Makeover and Today’s New Look
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Nike and Converse Crack Down on Alleged Counterfeiters in Major New Lawsuit
Nike and Converse last week filed a lawsuit against more than 100 alleged counterfeiters.