History of Converse
Converse is an American footwear company best known for its Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers. It was founded in 1908 by Marquis Mills Converse in Malden, Massachusetts, as the Converse Rubber Shoe Company, which initially made winterised rubber-soled boots. In 1917, the company introduced the All Star, a canvas basketball shoe that would go on to become one of the best-selling shoes in history.
In the early 1920s, basketball player Chuck Taylor joined Converse as a salesman and brand ambassador. He travelled across the United States running basketball clinics and suggested improvements to the shoe's design. His name was added to the ankle patch in 1932, and the "Chuck Taylors" became the standard shoe of American basketball for decades, worn by college teams, professional players, and Olympic athletes.
From the 1970s onward, Converse faced fierce competition from newer sportswear brands with more advanced basketball shoes, and its share of the performance market declined. At the same time, the All Star found a second life in music and youth culture, adopted by punk, rock, and skate scenes. After years of financial difficulty, Converse filed for bankruptcy in 2001 and was acquired by Nike in 2003.
Under Nike's ownership, Converse was revitalised as a lifestyle brand, with the Chuck Taylor All Star and the Chuck 70 remaining its core products alongside collaborations with designers and artists. Today, Converse is sold worldwide and remains a symbol of casual, classic American style.