Converse Chuck Taylor’s: A Timeless Shoe That Is Continuously Evolving
Image Courtesy: Hypebeast
Converse is one of the world’s most popular shoe brands. But more specifically, Converse Chuck Taylor’s are a shoe we all know and love. A pair of Chuck’s is a staple in many closets for it has a classic high-top silhouette that never seems to go out of style. It is a shoe many of us wore as kids that are still cool to wear today.
Charles Hollis "Chuck" Taylor was an American basketball player who became a salesman and coach for Converse’s own basketball team the “All-Stars.” He was passionate about the brand and gave it more popularity, which is why in 1934 the name “Chuck Taylor” was added to the heel patch of the shoe and remains there today. During this time, the Converse All Star was primarily a basketball shoe, a major one in fact because it was the official basketball shoe of the Olympics for over 30 years. Chuck Taylor’s were originally only available in black and white but as the shoe moved from being an athletic shoe to a more casual shoe, a variety of colors became available. A breakthrough for the Converse brand was when Nike bought the brand in 2003 and rejuvenated the business.
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Chuck Taylor’s have evolved into being a major shoe in pop culture. Part of this is due to it being an affordable show that still has prestige. When people wear Chuck’s, they are worn until they cannot be worn anymore. A pair of worn-out or dirty Chuck Taylor’s is not necessarily seen as a bad thing, but more of a relatable one. When Tumblr was at its peak, the app was filled with users posting artsy pictures of classic black and white Chuck Taylor’s. People would often pose the shoe with a Starbucks cup or cigarette depending on the aesthetic they were trying to fit. Chuck Taylor’s are very versatile and can be styled with any piece of clothing, which is another reason for their long-lasting popularity.
One of the ways the Converse brand stays relevant and modern is through innovation and collaborations. Chuck Taylor’s got their first design revamp in 2015 with the introduction of the “Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II”. After that, the momentum continued as they released the shoe in many different colorways, materials, and shapes. Converse Chuck Taylor’s has collaborated with many fashion brands and celebrities over the years. One of the most iconic and influential collabs they did was with the high-fashion brand “Comme des Garçons.” This collab received hype and praise and those who owned a pair were sure to flex the shoe on social media. In January of this year, Converse released their 2021 “starting lineup” which features Off-White, Chinatown Market, Tyler, The Creator, Kim Jones, and more from Comme des Garçons to name a few. This lineup is surely going to give the Chuck Taylor more opportunity for praise-worthy collabs.
Converse Chuck Taylor’s have been around for nine decades and are still a prominent and adored shoe. The sleek, affordable, and versatile shoes allow for them to be worn by all kinds of people. The reputation built around the shoe is so notable that if you say “a pair of chucks” everyone knows what you mean. This is why through any innovation or collab, the shoes remain timeless.
Strike Out,
Writer: Kylee Mukeba
Editor: Joey Flanagan
Graphic Designer: Audrey Estupinan
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