By USDR
Converse and basketball go together like ham and eggs. And now the iconic sneaker is a long standing member of pop culture.
The brand is now over one hundred years old, and has cushioned the feet of skateboarders, basketball players, and millions of ordinary men and women.
Their centenary marketing campaign “Connectivity” linked past pop heroes like Hunter S. Thompson and James Dean with more recent celebs such as Joan Jett and Dwayne Wade.
Chucks started out primarily as footwear for basketball players, way back in 1907. Today basketball players still wear them, but their appeal has broadened to include everyone who wants to feel a little bit edgy and creative.
It all started at a New England shoe factory when Marquis Mills Converse put rubber soles on boots and work shoes. With dedicated attention to detail and patience, Converse turned his ordinary shoes into a fashion phenom.
Their transcendent appeal works on multiple levels today:
They’re comfortable to wear in any weather, on any surface.
They appeal to jocks, geeks, artists, skateboarders, rebels, soccer moms, and just about anyone else who enjoys splashy colors or severe black, and a bit of daring.
Their price is still reasonable; around forty dollars. You don’t have to be Bill Gates to own a pair.
To play real American basketball you need only three things: A hoop. A ball. And a pair of chucks.
There’s no Velcro. You still tie the fat laces like your dad did, and his dad before him! The laces can be anything from pure white to a paisley panic of colors.
Will All Stars you get that big rubber piece in front that looks so cool, and protects your toes from being mashed and smashed.
You can get a huge selection of print patterns, roll downs, and, of course, the simple elegance of the classic black.
Getting that first pair of Chucks has been a rite of passage not only for American kids, but now world-wide. They’re worn with pride and panache from Singapore to Sydney, from Tokyo to Timbuktu!
