History

Converse Rubber Shoe Company was created by Marquis Mills Converse in 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts. In 1917, the corporate designed a shoe known as the All Star. The shoe was composed of a rubber sole associate degreed canvas higher and was designed to be an elite shoe for the hoops league. In 1921, a cager by the name of Charles "Chuck" Taylor joined a five sponsored by the Converse Company known as The Converse All Stars. Taylor command basketball clinics in high colleges everywhere the county and whereas teaching the basics of the sport, he sold-out the All Star shoes. As a salesperson and jock for the corporate, Taylor conjointly created enhancements to the shoe he beloved. His ideas for the shoe were designed to supply increased flexibility and support and conjointly incorporated a patch to safeguard the ankle joint. All Stars were before long worn by a range of hoops players and have become the envy of all aspiring basketball players. Soon after, All Stars were being worn by athletes within the athletics, and through war II yank troopers began to wear All Stars whereas in coaching. within the Nineteen Sixties, Converse began to expand their company and open additional factories and by that point, Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars were being worn by ninety % of skilled and school basketball players. because the years went on, the shoe gained additional quality and have become a favourite for varied teams and subcultures.

Design

Ruthie Morris standing onstage with a stringed instrument, sporting a black tee shirt with a changed Chuck Taylor All-Stars brand

Ruthie Morris of Magnapop wears a mock Chuck Taylor All-Stars tee shirt observance the punk band Queers

In 1923, when Chuck Taylor created enhancements to the shoe, Converse determined to include his name onto the ankle joint patches that displayed the Converse All Star brand. Then, within the Nineteen Thirties Taylor's signature was place into the look, that is however the shoe became called the "Chuck Taylor" All Star. once 1st created, the Converse All Star had 3 main designs - a monochromatic shoe with a black canvas higher and black rubber soles, associate degree all white shoe with blue and red trim, associate degreed an all black animal skin and rubber shoe. It wasn't till when war II that Converse determined to form the toe guard, laces and outer wraps white, that gave the looks of the long-lasting black and white Converse All Stars of nowadays. In 1957, Converse came out with the low-cut "Oxford" version of the All Star and shortly when began to turn out the shoes in multiple colours and prints. Today, Converse makes the Chuck Taylor All Star in a very style of colours, styles, prints and materials.

Nike acquisition

In 2003, Nike bought Converse brand for around $305 million. whereas Converse dominated the U.S. sneaker market from the Twenties till the Nineteen Seventies, it began to struggle owing to competition and lack of funds. within the years following, Converse filed for bankruptcy multiple times and fell into additional debt and eventually sold-out to Nike. Chuck Taylor All Stars also as Converse's alternative shoes began to be factory-made in foreign countries like China, Vietnam and land. old Converse fans were against the modification and lots of folks took a stand against the mill producing of the shoes. Some even stopped sporting the shoes. several conjointly feared that Nike would modification the design and standing of All Stars and over-commercialize the shoes, though Nike has not modified the design or advertising of Converse since shopping for in 2003. The culture electronic countermeasures cluster Adbusters started merchandising a Fairtrade shoe made up of Hemp and recycled rubber known as the plant disease.

In well-liked culture

Throughout the years, Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars created a shift from athletic garb to casual footwear. Originally associate degree elite basketball shoe, the Chuck Taylor All Star evolved into the shoe of alternative for several subcultures. The shoes became well-liked among several teams throughout the decades.

The iconic yank punk cluster The Ramones splendidly wore them throughout nearly all of their public appearances over the bands career, serving to to grant the complete worldwide culture standing, significantly within the u.  s. wherever the complete is often related to coevals. Chuck from the NBC program, Chuck wears Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars. Kurt Cobain from the massively well-liked grime band Nirvana wore Converse All Stars. archangel Echanis wore blackened Chuck Taylors whereas operating as a civilian advisor to the military to assist ease the pain he had from a previous injury.