Newsletter Past, Present, and Future huck Taylor All-Stars, or day as simply “white”). few alterations. The fabric is no All-Stars, also longer 2-ply cotton canvas but Creferred to as “Chucks,” Consumers demanded 1-ply “textile” and many wearers are canvas and rubber more variety from the have noticed different patterns produced by Converse. They - particularly with respect of wear. were first produced in 1917 to colors in order to match The shoes are available in as the “All-Star,” Converse’s teams - so colored several core colors, seasonal attempt to capture the and patterned shoelaces colors, and a variety of print basketball shoe market. They became popular to complement styles. were not particularly popular the two colors, black and In the the shoes became white, available before 1966. popular within the greaser Afterwards, more colors and subculture and amongst many styles became available. Low- fans of rockabilly. Fans of punk top or “Oxford”, high-top, and rock have adopted the shoe later knee-high, versions were as a fashion trend since the produced. More materials late 1970s and many popular ncluding leather, suede, vinyl, punk rock bands, such as the denim, and hemp. Some Ramones, have supported the versions of the shoe were trend by wearing the . offered without laces, held up All-Stars became popular again instead by elastic. These new in the ‘90s grunge culture, versions of the shoe were also especially in the early ‘90s days co-designed by Chuck Taylor, of G-funk. There has been a just before his death in 1969. recent re-adoption of them in until basketball player Chuck modern emo fashion. They Taylor adopted them as A full biography of Chuck Taylor have appeared in numerous his preferred shoe. He was was published by Indiana films and videogames, as well impressed with the design so University Press in March 2006 he became the shoe’s leading under the title Chuck Taylor, salesman. After proposing a All Star: The True Story of the few changes to the shoe, the Man Behind the Most Famous shoe got its current name and Athletic Shoe in History, with a Chuck Taylor’s signature on its foreword by the retired college ankle patch. Although classic basketball coach . black is the most popular, When Converse was bought Chuck Taylor was himself by Nike and operations were known to prefer unbleached moved from the United States white high-tops (known in his to overseas, the design saw a as TV shows. the Chuck Taylors are also or wearing odd shoes (often Despite the major setbacks for becoming more popular with two differently colored Chuck Converse in recent times, the hip hop scenes, pop music Taylors, or a Chuck Taylor and Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star scene and fashion in general. a different shoe) -- all styles is the most successful shoe Many Chuck Taylor owners fairly common among wearers in history, and has enjoyed are those who have owned of the shoes over the past three recent popularity thanks to the shoes in the often have decades. However, the original cushioning that absorbs and trend of wearing the low-rise therefore wastes some of the shoes (in white) and writing force exerted to move the on the rubberized part can be weight. Many powerlifters state traced back to early as 1972, the lack of elevation in the heel with the height of the fashion provides better support during amongst junior high school girls squats and deadlifts. Moreover, being between 1973-1975. In the lack of elevation reduces addition to writing on the shoes, the range of motion during the young girls in some areas also deadlift, often allowing more interlaced ordinary jingle bells weight to be lifted by shortening onto the laces, making jingling the distance the barbell must be sounds whenever they walked moved. down the corridors of their local junior high schools. Chuck Taylors saw another upswing in popularity in the early 1990s. Some may attribute this growing trend to a resurgence of old school a higher awareness of such trends. By the turn of the 21st fashions as grunge -- an century, over 750 million pairs outgrowth of some of the same had been sold worldwide. They rock-oriented youth cultures no longer seem to be worn that have kept an affinity for the by their original target market shoes since (at least) the late of basketball players (at least ‘70s/early ‘80s punk and new not in the professional sphere) wave eras. who have moved on to more modern shoes, but instead The recent increases in they are now marketed to the numbers of colors may also mainstream teenager. Some have led to the market for are so enthusiastic about the Chuck Taylors growing, due to sneakers that they have a vast, various owner- or factory-based ever-growing collection. customizations of the shoe Since the turn of the century, through color, use of stylized particularly since 2005, shoelaces, and through drawing Although Chuck Taylors are, Converse sneakers have or writing on the rubberized along become increasingly popular, parts. The customization of with Dr. Martens, still closely with a growing market. Chuck Taylors is highly popular associated with punk fashion, Originally seen as being worn with the rock scene, especially, punks have been the target by those in the rock music but not limited to, teenage of criticism for wearing a shoe scene, the market is growing girls, with many drawing/ that is ultimately manufactured with various, younger scenes, writing on the shoes, putting by Nike, a company that has some based on a sub-culture; mismatching laces in the shoes, been accused of producing More than shoes, Converse is style that showcased speed, Rogers, who earned NBA’s a story of legends, heroes and competitive play and team Sixth Man award 1999-2000, innovators tied together by the spirit. Before there was an “old Ron Mercer, who was named love of sport. It’s a script that school,” Converse, and the to the 1997-1998 NBA All Star spans nearly a hundred years – game’s pioneers who played in Rookie Team, Andre Miller, who the ultimate highlight reel. our shoes, set the benchmarks When Marquis M. Converse against which others aspired opened the doors of the to reach. Converse is The First Converse Rubber Shoe School™, the true owners of the Company in Malden, Mass., in soul of the game. Chuck Taylor 1908, he had no idea that he joins Converse, improves the All was really manufacturing an Star shoe’s traction and ankle American icon. support, becomes America’s Throughout the 20th century, first player endorser, and Converse delivered a consistent publishes the first of 60 years procession of standout sports of the Converse Basketball became one of the youngest performance footwear including Yearbook leaders in the game, and the shoe that revolutionized Jeryl Sasser, whose versatility, basketball and would later Converse enters the new tireless defense and amazing would later become a favorite rebounding earned him a spot worldwide, the Chuck Taylor® in the first round of the 2001 All Star®. NBA Draft. Converse shoes as being A young Marquis M. Converse at odds with punk’s general starts the company with association with left-wing winterized footwear for men, politics, particularly anarchism women and children. Converse and some forms of revolutionary canvas shoes for the sport of socialism. Many punks now tennis soon follow. And, during wear sweatshop-free imitations, basketball’s formative years, such as those made by the Converse invents the All Star® Blackspot Anticorporation or No basketball shoe, helping to Sweat Apparel, so as to avoid spark a century-long American such an ideological conflict. love affair with the sport. One can recognize a pair of The run on Converse pre-Nike era All-Stars by the performance tennis shoes “Made in U.S.A.”-marking found proliferates. millennium inspired by the in the heels of the American innovative drive of its founding made All-Stars, but this part of Meanwhile, backed by fathers and redoubles its the heel patch usually wears out Converse, Chuck Taylor, the commitment to remember, somewhat quickly. game’s most inspired, credible learn from and build upon its The company unveils Converse and tireless advocate, hits proven past, with a keen eye Re-Issue™, a collection the road to introduce legions on developing performance of performance footwear of Americans to the sport. footwear for the future. By drawn from the innovative Along the way, Converse this time, more than 750 manufacturer’s 20th century makes basketball shoes for million pairs of Chuck Taylor archive, presented in their the nation’s most famous All Star shoes have been original form and resurrected barnstorming teams who are sold in 144 countries since its with..story continued on page recognized for bringing to 1923 debut. Converse signs 6. the game an improvisational player-endorsers Rodney So Fresh and So Clean

Blue and Red Converse

Black and White boot

Dyed Converse

Batman Shoe “Creator of Concerse: Marquis Converse” Purple and White So Fresh and So Clean

Graffitti Converse

Black and White Converse

Superman Converse

“Creator of Concerse: Marquis Converse” Brown Converse Current Players with Converse original form and resurrected with on the shoelaces’ eyelet and continued at the game’s highest new color and added comfort. his name is featured on both level, where his tedious practice the heel and tongue of the habits, unmatched skill set , a five-time NBA shoe. The shoe will be available and poised leadership have All-Star, 2006 NBA Finals MVP, merited five NBA All-Star Game and also a member of the latest appearances and the coveted Gold Medal USA Basketball NBA Finals MVP Award in 2006. Team from the 2008 Beijing In 2008-09, Wade has put Summer Olympics, is having on the bookbag, decimating arguably his best NBA Season would-be defenders with an assortment of chopped goodies and watery range that’s got Floridians proclaiming “WADE starting on Friday, April 10th, County” once again. He’s exclusively at Champs Sports. averaging 30.2 points per Growing up, Dwyane Wade outing, which is tops in the evolved his game on the league, and has transformed asphalt and in the dimly lit the undervalued Heat yet and is in the hunt for the Richards High School gym in from likely pretenders to MVP trophy. Robbins, , playing for unprecedented contenders. Converse along with Wade hours in the stifling Midwestern have decided to reissue summertime heat. His tireless Through it all, Dee’s sported Wade’s first signature shoe, the variations of his first signature Converse WADE 1, the same shoe, the WADE 1. Converse shoe that DWade wore when he reissued the shoe in all of led the to their first its black/white/red glory to NBA Championship in 2006. celebrate their stud’s stat- A few updates have been made stuffing season. The Converse to the shoe to commemorate Wade 1 is available now in limited numbers at Champs for $90. Via Bounce. The return of a heated /Boston rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics welcomes too the return of the shoe that was at the of some of the fiercest battles. The Converse Weapon was the determination and undying shoe worn by commanders of Wade’s accomplishments over persistence helped him their squads and Hall of Famers the years including a “.08” on overcome academic issues at and the inner heel of the shoe which , leading in the epic 1986 NBA Finals. is symbollic of the two game the Golden Eagles to the Final winning shots Wade hit during Four in ’03. Though many draw a near that 2006 season. Additionally synonym between the shoes Wade’s number 3 is featured DWade’s success has Lil Wayne and his Converse Chuck Taylor to the year the Weapon first hit the battle field. Rapper Lil Wanye does often rock classic Converse Chucks. As they have a cheap price tag and are available at stores like Amazon with free shipping it is possible to wear exactly the same chucks like Lil Wayne. As he has a great fashion sense a lot of people copy his style. A big advantage is the fact that you can wear the Converse with a lot of outfits. and the two former players mentioned, it should not be forgotten that the Converse Players still with Converse Weapon was worn by other 1. Kirk Hinrich NBA greats that include Isiah 2. Kyle Krover Thomas, , Mark 3.Maurice Evans Aguirre, Kevin McHale, Robert 4. Acie Law Parrish, Bill Laimbeer, as well 5. as a young . 6. Elton Brand 7. Louis Williams Though the Converse Weapon 8. Larry Sanders ’86 may be obsolete as a 9. Luke Harangody technical basketball shoe by 10. Chris Andersen today’s standards, at the time 11. J.J Barea of its release, the Weapon 12. “Big Baby” Glen Davis featured some of the best design for stability that the market had to offer. The shoes feature the Y Bar system which extends the exterior of the upper around the ankle locking the heel in place and minimizing slipping on the foot bed. Converse, a brand that just celebrated 100 years of continued success, will reintroduce the Weapon this month in timeless colors made famous on the feet of Magic and Bird. Celebrating the history of the shoes the shoes feature a 100% original color blocking and a repeating 1986 scoreboard pattern tieing back