The story behind the stars' shoes
Footwear

17 April 2021

The story behind the stars' shoes

The story behind the stars' shoes


What if we told you that the All Star you know today only exists because in 1908 Marquis Mills Converse slipped? It’s true! It was to prevent him from falling again that he decided to found a shoe company with rubber soles, the Converse. About 15 years later, the All Star, the brand's most iconic model, was born.


The target audience was basketball players. Charles “Chuck” Taylor, who played for the Celtics, Buffalo Germans and Akron Firestones, was the brand's biggest booster and a crucial player in the history of the All Star. He was the one who suggested the diamond shape on the rubber sole, to increase traction during games, and the addition of the heel protection, to improve the support and protection of players' ankles. Officially launched in 1923, the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star were designed with the aim of standardizing the shoes used in basketball.

 

Despite not having an immediate success, with the hard work of Chuck Taylor, the All Star became the official sneakers of the American basketball, for both professional and university teams. Converse's reign in basketball lasted until the 1970s, when they were dethroned by Nike's shock absorber technology.

 

The story behind Converse is extensive and interesting. Did you know that the All Star was the official footwear of the American army during World War II? The company was chosen due to the basic design, and the functionality, comfort and durability of the model. During the Second World War, Converse started to produce special footwear, clothes and jackets with rubber protections for American pilots, soldiers and armed forces.

 

With the 1960s, changes came. At the request of the basketball teams, the Chuck Taylor All Star, until then only available in black and white, started to appear in new colors, in order to match the various sports equipment. It was also in this decade that the sneaker model jumped from inside the court lines to the middle of the street.



In the 1970s, the punk movement established the All Star as a symbol of rebellion. Whoever was seen with the sneakers immediately asserted outside the traditional patterns of society. However, after a decline in interest, the Converse model only returned to the limelight in the 1990s, this time with the grunge movement. Transported to the world of celebrities, the All Star matched the movement’s characteristic careless look, with names like Kurt Cobain appearing frequently with them in public. It was also at this time that the All Star started to integrate the skater style.


Jumping until 2003, we found another turning point in the company's history. That year, Converse was bought by Nike. With the new investment, Converse guaranteed the creation of new models and partnerships with artists, stylists, rock bands and streetwear brands. The iconic Chuck Taylor All Star evolved from the vintage sneaker to an object of fashion and collectible interest. In 2015, the interior of the shoe was improved with the Lunarlon insole, already used by Nike, for greater cushioning and support of the foot, remaining the same until today.




Life is too short to waste it

 

With more than 100 years, Converse shows that it knows how to adapt to trends and the customers’ concerns. In addition to the Renew collection, made with recycled materials, the brand has several vegan models available. What does it mean? It means that the sneaker is created without any animal product. The vegan models are produced with a synthetic glue and the upper part is in canvas. But pay attention: this only happens for the fabric All Star models. The models made of cotton and leather are no longer vegan, but they are still fantastic.

 

From the fabrics we jump to the screens. About two years ago, Converse created a program called All Stars Series. Comprised of participants between 18 to 25 years old, the program encourages the community to be a part of the creative process. “All Star challenges you to be bold, to embrace what makes you different and to have the courage to take the first step”. That is the motto that can be found on the brand's youtube page, where you can see lectures on creativity, community, art and career.




With high or low top, fabric, leather, platform, plain or with patterns: find your modelon our website.


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