Converse is one of the oldest and most respected names in the world of footwear. The world knows Converse, especially when you are talking about their iconic Chuck Taylor All Star brand. Read more about Converse below.
Converse
The Chuck Taylor, from Converse, has been a prestigious piece of popular culture for decades now. Chucks have been dominant with their high top and low top canvas styles. It is hard to imagine someone not having owned a Chuck Taylor sneaker at some point. Chuck Taylors are more than just sneakers—they are a blank canvas for self-expression. Converse aims to inspire and enable people to be their true and authentic self. Each person that wears Chuck Taylors has their own style and personality. It might be crisp and clean, tattered and torn, or paint splattered and doodled on—but it is still a reflection of you.
1908
Converse started its impressive streak of relevance more than a century ago. Marquis Converse started the Converse Rubber Company in 1908 in Boston, Massachusetts. Converse is currently a part of the Nike family and has been a subsidiary of Nike, Inc since 2003.
1891
In 1891, James Naismith invented the game of basketball. The connection between Converse and basketball would be immense and important to the growth of both the company and the game.
Chuck Taylor
Chuck Taylor started out with Converse by applying for a sales job. He would eventually end up being the All-Star’s biggest promoter. Taylor would travel the USA hosting basketball clinics and advocating for the shoe company. Converse and basketball were the two big passions in the life of Taylor. Taylor’s charisma and salesmanship helped to put Converse on the map. Chuck Taylor’s dedication to his work and basketball was unparalleled. Converse rewarded his commitment by adding his name to the All-Star in 1934. Chuck Taylor became the first celebrity endorser for a shoe.
1936
The very first Olympic basketball championship took place at the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin. The Americans would wear All-Star sneakers with red and blue stripes. USA would win the gold medal and doing so in the Chuck Taylor was a huge boost to Converse’s reputation. In 1939, NCAA’s first championship game happens. Both teams were wearing Chucks in the contest. The All-Star Chuck Taylor was quickly becoming the official shoe of basketball. Chuck Taylor would go on to serve his country as a captain in the Air Force. He would coach regional basketball squads, which was a morale booster for the troops. Soldiers would perform their training exercises in Chucks, and it would become the unofficial training shoe of the United States Armed Forces.
1949
In 1949, the NBA was born. Almost every player was wearing Converse when the league started. By 1955, Chucks were the number one basketball shoe in the country. Converse owned a large majority of the entire sneaker industry. Low Top All Star Chuck Taylors debuted in 1957. The Low Top would rival the High Top when it came to popularity. By the early 1960s, the All Star is becoming less of a basketball shoe and more of a lifestyle model. In 1969, Chuck Taylor is inducted into the basketball hall of fame. Sadly, he would pass away the same year.
Choose Your Weapon
The two biggest basketball stars of the 1980s are Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. The NBA greats had an epic rivalry during the era. The Celtics and Lakers have been foes practically since the start of professional basketball. Magic and Bird met in the Finals three times. The Converse Weapon had a slogan, “Choose Your Weapon.” This referred to the fact that the Weapon was available in a variety of team colors. For Magic, a pair of Yellow and Purple Weapons were made. Bird, whose Celtics team wore black shoes, had a black pair.
Different Era
When Magic and Bird played against each other, they both had on Converse. With the Weapon, they had on the same style in different colors. That shows just how powerful Converse was in its heyday. The influence they had on the game and the staple of high profile players they had was massive. The top players of the era both wore the exact same brand and style as each other. Today, players may wear the same brand, but it is rarely the same silhouette. There are also more brands today. The Lakers vs Celtics rivalry in the 1980s is an incredible moment for the Converse Weapon.
Shoe Palace x Converse
Shoe Palace has been around for 30 years and naturally respects longevity. Converse has reached a level of stability everyone in the industry strives for. Shoe Palace and Converse have joined forces many times over the years and those projects are invaluable pieces of Shoe Palace’s history.
- Adam C. Better
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