Converse

Bursting with over 10,000 items, the Converse archives run deep. But adapting heritage styles to modern day isn’t as simple as plucking an icon from the past and tweaking a few things.? It’s a complex creative process that can be likened to making music, says Senior Footwear Designer John Heinrich. “If you just reissued a shoe, it would be sampling — cutting something up in classic hip-hop style. But in West Coast sampling, they hired musicians to replay samples so they could chop them up; it's called an interpolation, which is what we're doing: We're taking the old shoe, highlighting, pushing and pulling what we want to show about it, then in remaking it with modern materials.”?? Having been at Converse for nearly two decades, John is well versed in this dance — as evidenced by his work on our new retro-inspired collection.? The lifestyle designs juxtapose our running heritage (which dates back to the 1930 Converse Racer) with cues from seminal ’80s performance styles (such as the 1989 Converse Wave Runner), new innovations, and contemporary utility. They also include a few nostalgic design “Easter Eggs” for those who know where to look …?

Converse’s ties to San Francisco go way back, rooted in our shared love of sport, skate, and music — as expressed on the feet of myriad hometown athletes and creatives through generations. The recent debut of a skatable art addition to the UN Skate Plaza, funded by Converse and The Skatepark Project, adds another chapter to this dynamic relationship.?? ? Not only does the new plaza highlight how we continue to invest in the Bay Area’s skate and cultural communities, its sculptural design (the vision of CONS rider Alexis Sablone) spotlights skate as a creative medium that encourages young people to think about and interact with their cities differently.? Evidence of this exchange was front and center opening weekend, which we celebrated alongside Alexis, a big Converse crew — including Jared Carver, Brandis Russell, Jonathan Tappan, Patrick Simpson-Nairn, and Judy Dunbar, among others? — and two of our longtime Social & Community Impact partners: The Skatepark Project, which played a key role in the new design’s creation, and Skate Like a Girl, which will work to ensure its ongoing use by the community. ?

It's more important than ever to express our individuality. Without explanation. Without apology. Without doubt. Our new?LOVE, Chuck?anthem, which is narrated by Tyler, The Creator and features the artist alongside a cast of culture-shapers?—?Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Alexis Sablone,?Roy Wang, and Charli xcx among them?—?is a homage to our icon, the Chuck Taylor, and an?open invitation to all Creators to go do that thing they’ve always wanted to do. Whatever it may be. Inspired by generations of artists, musicians, athletes, and creators of all genres who have pursued their passions and championed individuality while wearing Chucks, this short film is an invitation to not let the fear of failure stop you, to create what you love, and to “Go do that.”?

It all started with the debut of the SHAI 001 … NBA All-Star Weekend that is.? Last weekend, we painted San Francisco yellow —?butter yellow — ?and expressed our love for the city through a host of basketball and skate moments.?? The SHAI 001 STUDIO off Union Square hosted a Lil Yachty concert; an art collaboration between Shai and Slawn; a full showing from our Converse and Nike, Inc. leaders, including Jared Carver and Elliott Hill; a steady line of fans and more. CONS rider Alexis Sablone cut the ribbon on a new addition to the UN Skate Plaza in front of City Hall, designed by her and funded by Converse and The Skatepark Project. The SHAI 001 kept busy on-court and in the tunnel. And as night fell, SGA took over the skyline.? #NBAAllStar #Converse #Nike?

Creativity is the fuel of Converse — a reality our new series “Converse Creators” puts a fine point on by spotlighting our teammates’ extracurricular endeavors and expressions, starting with?Austin Bryant. A member of the Converse Global Brand Marketing team, Austin is also an interdisciplinary creator whose fine-art photography and multimedia works reveal an ongoing dedication to meaningful storytelling. “I'm passionate about storytelling of all kinds,” Austin confirms. “I really enjoy focusing on telling stories of the marginalized or the underrepresented.” This commitment notably roots the work Austin completed while pursuing his MFA in Photography. His graduation project, titled “Where They Still Remain,” reflects stories of the Black and Indigenous communities on Martha's Vineyard through a combination of Austin’s own photography, archival images of those communities on the island, and historical texts he redacted. In addition to sharing the project in a solo exhibition this spring, Austin continues to create daily, both at work and afterhours. “Being a creator is not a choice I made,” he confirms. “It’s just who I am. I can always integrate some element of creativity into what I do every day.” “Where They Still Remain” is on view from March 1 to June 8, 2025, at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum.

Think the Chuck Taylor All Star is solely a sneaker? Our designers beg to differ.?? Tony DeVito and Alyssa Makere say the Chuck is also a mindset, and translating the silhouette’s DNA beyond the icon is among their preeminent tasks. It requires juxtaposing the shoe’s timeless energy and utility with some of its iconic design details — the All Star license plate, diamond tread outsole, and other instantly recognizable features — while pushing the edges of convention.? Walking this creative tightrope requires unrestrained experimentation, explain Tony and Alyssa. Refinement comes later. “It’s about going far and then stripping it back, which is also a very Converse mindset,” Tony declares. Recently released styles designed by the duo attest to this nuanced approach. They give the Chuck bold, new form while remaining grounded in its timeless design language.?

When we say we’re a brand for and of creators, we mean it. Last week, we got into the holiday spirit at our headquarters in Boston with the annual Lovejoy Market, where some of our teammates showcased their creativity by sharing and selling their personal creations. From vibrant waxed canvas pouches to hand-crafted jewelry, crocheted baskets, upcycled art pieces and more, the market showcased 20 of our Converse creators and offered our teammates a chance to take care of their holiday shopping and toast to 2024. Thank you to all our artists who came out and shared their amazing creations, and the planning team for bringing this moment to life. We’re looking forward to a 2025 filled with more creativity and much Love + Joy! A few of our amazing creators pictured here: Gregory Woods II, MBA, Sharon Baranov, and Tianna-Alysse Rivera.

It’s not your average logo. In one of his first acts as Creative Director for Converse Basketball, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander collaborated with the team on his newly released signature logo.?? ? The distinct emblem takes inspiration from a design Shai hand-sketched. “I wanted the logo to embody the difference in my ‘on-the-court’ and ‘off-the-court’ personas,” he explains. “One that doesn’t necessarily follow a guideline or formula but that reflects who I am both as an athlete and a person. The ‘2’ in the logo not only signifies my jersey number but also this duality, which is why there are two number 2s.”? ?? If you missed the reveal, the logo debuted yesterday right in?Toronto — just around the corner from Shai’s hometown — ahead of the Raptors vs. Thunder game.?

Think you’ve already seen all the Camp Flog Gnaw highlights? We’ve got one more for you — and it’s among our favorites: Camp Flog Gnaw Community Day, which we were proud to participate in alongside AEG and Goldenvoice.? The experience offered more than 65 Los Angeles youth and young adults a peek behind the festival’s curtain, exposing them to the various careers of those who helped bring CFG to life.? Youth participants from Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory, Las Fotos Project, Inner-City Arts, Homeboy Arts Academy, and Legacy LA heard from our CMO Rodney Rambo. They also interacted with members of the day’s Power of Partnerships panel, including our own Lindsay Almeida, before engaging in a speed mentoring session. Thank you to all the incredible participants, volunteers and organizers who brought this day into being, including Frankie Gonzalez, Catherine Lewis, Colin O'Connor, Jay Yeadon, Nicholas Acosta, Scott Mackey, Sergio Roballo, Suevia Greloni Pierri-Ellison, and Victoria Gillott.

Tyler, the Creator was there, 50,000 fans were there, and so were we.?Last weekend, Converse teammates descended upon Camp Flog Gnaw, Tyler, The Creator’s music festival and carnival, to document the moment and get in on the action.?? ? Our social team — we’re looking at you Kelly Kinton and Madeleine Allen — kept cameras rolling and even captured a drone shot to provide a virtual all-access pass to CFG’s happenings: Think headline performances, BTS with Alistair Chevalier, and this year’s style vibes, which were heavily influenced by Converse. ? ? At our pop-up spaces, guests found limited-edition designs and Converse icons. Our North America VP/GM Brandis Russell even worked the tents alongside our store teams and additional Retail, DC, and HQ teammates. They had the opportunity to attend the carnival to stretch their skills and gain insight into another side of the business (as well as catch the performances, of course).?