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CONVERSE HISTORY
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 The
history of Converse is largely the history of
one remarkable training shoe - the Converse All
Star "Chuck Taylor" which is actually
the oldest and best-selling trainer of all time.
 Converse
started in 1908 as the Converse Rubber Corporation.
Converse and first version of the All Star basketball
shoe was produced in 1917. The Converse All Star
trainer came in only one color, which was black,
and had a very thick rubber sole, and a ankle
covering canvas upper. It took some time before
it really took off, and this was thanks to Charles
"Chuck" H. Taylor.
Charles H. Taylor played basketball for a team
called the Akron Firestones. He recognised the
potential of the All Star shoe and in 1921 he
joined the Converse sales force. He travelled
throughout the US promoting the All Star and the
game of basketball. In 1923, in recognition of
his work and the success it had generated, Chuck
Taylor's name went onto the ankle patch and since
then it has been known as the "Chuck Taylor"
All Star basketball shoe.
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In 1966 Converse responded to market forces and
began to introduce coloured version. Basketball
teams had started to put colored shoe laces into
their "Chucks" and to dye the White
version in their team colours.
Sadly, Chuck Taylor died in 1969
Converse and the Chuck Taylor All Star no longer
completely dominate the trainers market as they
did at one time, but having sold more than 500,000,000
pairs they have certainly proved their worth over
90 years. The Chuck Taylor All Star trainer has
changed very little in all that time, apart from
perhaps the colour, and it's absolutely incredible
that it should still be going strong - it is the
ultimate in retro trainers! |
| CONVERSE RANGE |
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Apart from hi, lo and super-hi versions of the Chuck Taylor All-Star trainer
in different colours, Converse have added a few
other trainers to the range, such as the Jack
Purcell endorsed badminton shoe, the story of
this brand is really all about the one style of
trainer.
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