Converse Shoes Section:
More than shoes, Converse is a story of legends, heroes and innovators tied together by the love of sport. Established by Marquis M. Converse in 1908, Converse is an American athletic shoe brand with nearly a century of authentic sports history and footwear innovation under its laces. The Converse collection, built upon its American sports heritage, includes
sports performance, sports classics and sports lifestyle athletic footwear for
men, women and children, as well as athletic-inspired apparel.
It was in 1908 that the Converse Rubber Corporation began its business. With the popularity of basketball, the Converse Corporation saw the need to develop a shoe that people could wear while playing basketball. After lots of research and development, the very first version of the All Star basketball shoe was produced in 1917. The All Star shoe only came in one color, which was black. The Converse All Star was to be the first mass produced trainer in North America. It consisted of a very thick rubber sole, and an ankle covering canvas upper. At first though, it really did not catch on with people, especially basketball players. It would however, a few years later, thanks to Charles "Chuck" H. Taylor.
Charles H. Taylor was a basketball player for the Akron Firestones. He liked what he saw in the Converse All Star shoe and knew basketball players all across America would soon be wearing them. As a matter of fact, he believed in the shoe so much that in 1921 he joined the Converse sales force, and traveled all across the United States not only promoting the Converse All Star trainer, but also the game of basketball itself, for which he hosted basketball clinics. Because of his tireless efforts, Taylor was named the "Ambassador to Basketball." But the Converse Corporation also bestowed something else on him. Because he was so successful in promoting the Converse All Star trainer, as well as making important changes in the original All Star shoe, in 1923, his name "Chuck Taylor" was added to the ankle patch. Hence the "Chuck Taylor" Converse All Star basketball shoe was born.
More than shoes, Converse is a story of legends, heroes and innovators. Established in 1908, Converse is an American athletic shoe brand with nearly a century of authentic sports. Converse, America's Original Sports Brand, has forever fused itself with the heritage and soul of American sports within basketball, tennis, badminton, turf and track. With the classic Chuck Taylor All Star basketball boot (1923) and the Jack Purcell badminton shoe (1935), Converse launched two sport fashion icons that achieved global fame way beyond the limits of the sports court.
A cool mix of sport and fashion sets the tone for the Converse spring/summer collection 2006: featuring new styles of the classics Chuck Taylor All Star and Jack Purcell, the Converse shoe collection also brings back a lot of different stylish retro models. Colourful fresh materials, the “new” old styles express summer feeling at its best. Converse also presents athletic-inspired and fashionable apparel collections for men, women and children – taking a modern view on the brand’s tradition and authenticity.
The Converse collection’s highlight is the limited Jack Purcell line featuring shoes and apparel. The name Jack Purcell is strongly linked to the 50/60ies American aristocracy, reflecting individuality and self-confidence combined with a search for a given quality. The unique skateboard shoe One Star, launched in the 80ies, is no longer tied onto the board but will be an essential part of next summer’s trend fashion market. The new collection also includes creative designs of the Chuck Taylor All Star – bright, colourful and with unique patterns, the Chucks once more will be a next season’s highlight.
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