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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
Converse x Play Comme des Garçons Launch New Chuck 70
The duo celebrate their decade-long partnership with a new release in Blue Quartz and Steel Gray.
TikTok Tells Converse to ‘Do Better’ After User Accuses It of Copying
A video in which a 22-year-old designer highlights the similarities between her designs and recent Converse…
Todd Snyder Creates Jack Purcell Collection for Converse
The collection of apparel and footwear launches May 20.
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Converse and Kim Jones to Launch First Collab
The collection led by Jones' take on Converse's Chuck 70 sneaker launches on April 8.
Latest Converse x Comme des Garçons Play Collab Takes on the Jack Purcell ‘Smile’
With more than 20 iterations, Converse's Matt Sleep discusses the impact of the longstanding fashion and…
Converse Converts Tyvek Mailers, Vintage Hawaiian Shirts into Classic Sneaker Styles
Converse may be an American classic, but the heritage brand is proving itself averse to stagnation.
Designer Rick Owens Injects ‘Adolescent Rage’ into Converse Collab
Converse parent company Nike announced the two would "reimagine and re-articulate classic Converse sneakers…
Rick Owens Tells All About His New Converse Collaboration
The designer unveiled the sneakers at his fall 2021 runway show in Venice, Italy.
Interest in Converse Spiked After Kamala Harris Vogue Cover
The vice president-elect in casual mode on Vogue's cover stirred controversy, and online interest in…
110-Year-Old Wading Boot Inspires Converse’s Weather-Ready Kicks
With more consumers heading into the great outdoors, Converse teamed with Tokyo fashion label Ambush on a…
Converse Sneaker Capsule Inspired by NBA’s Former Rival League
Ahead of the 45th anniversary of the American Basketball Association's merger with the NBA, Converse released…
New Denim Tears and Converse Collab Champions the Black Vote
A new Denim Tears and Converse collab reimagines the Chuck 70 shoe with the African-American flag's colors…
Converse Spotlights Black Queer Community in Italy With New Communication Project
Converse is supporting young creative and journalist Jordan Anderson's MQBMBQ digital project in shedding a…
Converse and Marchon Announce Eyewear Licensing Deal
Converse has signed a long-term deal with Marchon for the design, development and distribution of both…