converse
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.
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!
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.
