There is Only One All-Star: The Chuck Taylors
By Karla Mejia
The thing about Converse is you really can’t live without them. A Chuck Taylor adds a simple touch to every outfit for every occasion, whether you are looking for a basic tennis shoe or the perfect sneaker to tone down a dress. Its functional and ultra-comfortable design, with its chic silhouette, makes them a staple sneaker. This comfortable sneaker hasn’t changed in over 100 years, and every major celebrity owns a pair.
Converse sneakers have been around since 1917, originally known as the Converse Rubber Shoe Company, where it first released its now-iconic Converse All-Star shoe, the first athlete-endorsed signature sneaker. As a result, this became the “it” shoe for basketball players. In the ‘30s and ‘40s, many outside the basketball scene began to wear All-Stars, ultimately boosting the brand image to one of American originality. Like most fashion brands, Converse began to struggle financially in the ‘70s due to increased competition and outdated technology. Despite years of difficulty, the iconic designs have been adopted by different subculture populations, earning this sneaker a unique space in the world of fashion; it touched many populations associated with professional and collegiate basketball players as well as music scene stars, like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols.
Today, long-running collaborations have allowed the brand to sustain its popularity. What makes the Converse Chuck Taylor the canvas of choice for such popular collaborations is the simplicity of the silhouette. With Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons PLAY line, simple colorways paired with the simple CDG heart logo on the side make it a classic streetwear staple that is here to stay. One of the most anticipated collaborations has been the original Off-White x Converse Chuck 70. Virgil Abloh’s signature designs with the zip-tie, quotation marks and deconstructed look have, without a doubt, created anticipation for this sneaker. Although these collaborations are limited and often priced more than the classic All-Stars, Converse remains the most affordable sneaker worn by those who have taste, talent and a sense of history. The iconicity and longevity of a brand is uncontestable when the seemingly mundane and more affordable colorways of a shoe are just as beloved as the highly-marketed — and highly-priced — featured releases.
Without a doubt, the enduring legacy of Chuck Taylors make them quintessential classics — timeless, adjustable, and versatile. They will never be out of style or place.
Converse sneakers have been around since 1917, originally known as the Converse Rubber Shoe Company, where it first released its now-iconic Converse All-Star shoe, the first athlete-endorsed signature sneaker. As a result, this became the “it” shoe for basketball players. In the ‘30s and ‘40s, many outside the basketball scene began to wear All-Stars, ultimately boosting the brand image to one of American originality. Like most fashion brands, Converse began to struggle financially in the ‘70s due to increased competition and outdated technology. Despite years of difficulty, the iconic designs have been adopted by different subculture populations, earning this sneaker a unique space in the world of fashion; it touched many populations associated with professional and collegiate basketball players as well as music scene stars, like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols.
Today, long-running collaborations have allowed the brand to sustain its popularity. What makes the Converse Chuck Taylor the canvas of choice for such popular collaborations is the simplicity of the silhouette. With Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons PLAY line, simple colorways paired with the simple CDG heart logo on the side make it a classic streetwear staple that is here to stay. One of the most anticipated collaborations has been the original Off-White x Converse Chuck 70. Virgil Abloh’s signature designs with the zip-tie, quotation marks and deconstructed look have, without a doubt, created anticipation for this sneaker. Although these collaborations are limited and often priced more than the classic All-Stars, Converse remains the most affordable sneaker worn by those who have taste, talent and a sense of history. The iconicity and longevity of a brand is uncontestable when the seemingly mundane and more affordable colorways of a shoe are just as beloved as the highly-marketed — and highly-priced — featured releases.
Without a doubt, the enduring legacy of Chuck Taylors make them quintessential classics — timeless, adjustable, and versatile. They will never be out of style or place.