History Of The Converse All Star
Converse Rubber Corporation was founded in 1908. The company started out making galoshes, and other rubber shoes for work on a seasonal basis. The company eventually realized it was more efficient to have their employees work all year and started making athletic shoes. Converse Corporation realized the importance of creating shoes that could be worn while playing basketball. The All Star basketball shoe was created in 1917 after much research and development. Original All Star shoes were available in natural brown colors and black trim. Converse All Stars were first made in leather or canvas versions in the 1920s. The All Star was the first North American basketball shoe to be mass-produced. The shoe featured a thick rubber sole and an upper made of canvas or leather. Initial sales were slow. The first sales were slow. Charles H. Taylor would make them explode a few more years later.
Charles H. Taylor was a former basketball player for the Akron Firestones. He loved the All Star shoe and believed it could be a great shoe for basketball. In fact, he was a member of the Converse sales force in 1921 and later became the player/coach of the Converse All-Stars basketball team. team. Taylor traveled the country with Converse throughout his time as a trainer and ambassador for the All Star shoe. Taylor’s personal salesmanship and clever marketing tools, such as the Converse Basketball Yearbooks, made a lasting impression on the sport at all levels. Converse Corporation gave him another gift. In 1932, Chuck Taylor’s name was added to the Ankle Patch because he was so successful with the promotion of Converse All Stars and making significant changes to the shoe’s design. The All Star basketball shoe “Chuck Taylor” was born.
Soon, Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars were worn by American basketball teams and American boys. Chuck Taylor created the white high-top model with patriotic red and blue trim for the 1936 Olympics. This shoe, along with the All Star’s all-black canvas and leather models, became extremely popular in the 1930s. You can still purchase the bright optical white model, or an un-dyed off-white model called unbleached and natural white. Chuck Taylor was a pilot in the Air Force during World War II and he coached the regional basketball teams. This was a valuable morale booster for troops. Chuck Taylor, an All Star, went to war with GI’s in white high-top Chucks that were made the official sneaker for the United States Armed Forces.
The Chuck Taylor All Star High Top, a classic black-and-white Chuck Taylor All Star High Top, was introduced in 1949. It was a more striking shoe than the monochrome, black models. With the merger of the National Basketball League (NBA) and the Basketball Association of America (BABA), basketball was now a major professional game. Chuck Taylor All Stars were the shoes for professional, college and high school basketball players. The distinctive black and white high-tops were part the team’s look. The low-cut All Star was first introduced in 1957 and quickly became a popular alternative to the traditional high top. Converse owned a 80% share in the sneaker market at that time. Taylor was known as the “Ambassador of Basketball” for his tireless efforts to promote the sport. In 1968, Charles H. ‘Chuck’ Taylor entered the Basketball Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he died one year later.
The dominance of Converse Company was also lost with Chuck Taylor’s passing. The Nike Corporation was the leader of new rivals that began to challenge Converse’s market share and influence. Many changes took place in the world of athletic shoes. These companies launched new models with all-leather uppers and new colors, as well as high tech innovations such air cells and pumps. Converse responded with chucks in a variety colors and new models such as the One Star or Dr. J. Teams began to abandon their All Stars and start working with other brands and models.
Athletic shoes were first introduced to the public in 1970s. Everybody wanted to feel the same as sneakers on their feet. Numerous new shoe manufacturers began to market a variety of basketball shoes, as well as other leisure and sports shoes.
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star “Chuck Taylor” All Star was once the premier shoe for elite basketball players, but it became the shoe of counter-culture and baby boomers who couldn’t stop wearing their favorite pair of Chucks. They were very popular among rock musicians. The shoes also became a favorite of younger generations. These shoes were popular because they were trendy and were used as a casual shoe. Converse made hundreds of variations, including unusual patterns and models for different ages. Converse Chuck Taylor All Star is still one of the most popular basketball shoes.
The Converse Company experienced financial difficulties in the 1980s and 1990s. There were many changes in ownership and management at Converse Company. The company was affected by these changes, bad business decisions and a loss of market share. In 2001, they filed for bankruptcy. The brand was too established to be abandoned. New ownership took control, closing all North American manufacturing plants and moving Converse’s athletic shoes production from the USA to Asia. Nike eventually bought the company and reestablished the brand.
Chuck Taylor athletic shoes have survived despite all the changes and innovations in the industry. Worldwide, thousands of pairs of low- and high-top Chucks are still being sold every week. They are unisex and can be worn by men, women, and girls alike. There have been more than 1 billion pairs of Chucks. Converse All Star Chuck Taylor is still a popular shoe. Chucks fans are passionate about the shoes, unlike other sneaker styles that have lost their appeal. These simple, timeless sneakers are being rediscovered by millions of people every generation who love their feel and look. Converse All Star Chuck Taylors “Chuck Taylors” are still in production after nine decades. The basic design of the Chuck Taylor basketball shoe has remained unchanged since 1949. Converse All Star Chuck Taylor basketball shoes are the iconic American sneaker. They come in both high-top and low-top oxford versions.
