Converse (brand) facts for kids
 |
|
World headquarters building on Boston's Lovejoy Wharf
|
|
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | |
| Founded | February 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Founder | Marquis Mills Converse |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
|
Number of locations
|
136 (2023) |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
|
Key people
|
Jared Carver (president and CEO) |
| Products | |
| Brands |
|
| Revenue |  US$2.4 billion (2023) |
| Parent |
|
Converse is a famous American company that makes cool shoes, clothes, and accessories. It was started by Marquis Mills Converse in 1908 in Massachusetts. The company was first called the Converse Rubber Shoe Company. Over the years, it has been owned by different companies. Since 2003, it has been part of Nike, Inc..
Converse first made rubber-soled shoes and boots for winter. During World War II, they even made shoes for the military. For a long time, Converse was one of the top companies for athletic shoes in the U.S. But in the 1970s, other brands started making new styles. Today, Converse is known for its casual fashion items. In 2023, the company made $2.4 billion in sales. Some of their most popular products are the Chuck Taylor All-Stars, Cons, Jack Purcell, One Star, and Star Chevron shoes. They often work with other brands to make special shoes.
Contents
Converse History: From Rubber Shoes to Sneakers
Starting Out: 1908 to 1940
Marquis Mills Converse, who was 47, opened the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in February 1908. It was in Malden, Massachusetts. The company made rubber shoes, boots for winter, and tennis shoes. They even made car tires! In 1916, Converse started making basketball shoes. By 1917, the Converse All-Star basketball shoe came out. It became very popular during World War I and the Spanish flu time.
In 1922, a basketball player named Charles H. "Chuck" Taylor joined Converse. He had sore feet and thought the shoes could be better. Converse hired him as a salesperson and a brand ambassador. He traveled all over the U.S. to promote the shoes. In 1932, Chuck Taylor's signature was added to the All-Star patch on the high-top sneakers. He worked for Converse until he passed away in 1969. Sales for the All-Star shoes grew a lot. In 1929, the company faced financial trouble. The Stone Family bought Converse in 1939 and owned it until 1972.
War, Growth, and Changes: 1941 to 2001
When the U.S. joined World War II in 1941, Converse changed its production. They started making rubber shoes, coats, and protective suits for the military. After the war, they went back to making athletic shoes. They mostly made high-top shoes in black or white. In the 1950s and 1960s, Converse promoted an American image. They used a Converse Basketball Yearbook with art by Charles Kerins. This art showed Converse's role in the lives of high school and college athletes. In 1957, Converse released a low-cut All-Stars style. By 1966, the shoes were available in many school colors.
Converse made special shoes for the New York Renaissance (the "Rens"). This was the first all-African-American professional basketball team. The shoes were designed to be "non-skid" for better grip. An extra rubber strip was added to protect the shoes from constant turning. This was called the "pivot button." In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in an National Basketball Association (NBA) game. He was wearing All-Stars when his team won 169–147.
By the early 1970s, Converse also made other sports items and industrial products. The Eltra Corporation bought Converse in 1972. They also bought PF Flyers, another shoe company. But a court said this was a monopoly, so the deal was stopped. Converse only kept the rights to the Jack Purcell shoe line. The famous chevron-and-star logo was created by an employee named Jim Labadini.
Eltra was bought by Allied Corporation in 1979. Allied then sold Converse to Interco Incorporated in 1986. Interco then spun off Converse as its own company in 1994.
Converse lost its top spot in athletic shoes from the 1970s on. New companies like Puma, Adidas, and Nike became very popular. Later, Reebok brought out new shoe designs and technology. Converse was no longer the official shoe of the NBA. Even though canvas-rubber shoes became popular again in the 1980s for everyday wear, Converse relied too much on the "All Stars" basketball brand. By 2000, Converse was having serious money problems.
Converse had to file for bankruptcy on January 22, 2001. On March 30, their last factories in the U.S. closed. All production moved to other countries. In April 2001, a group called Footwear Acquisitions bought the brand. They worked to help the company recover. Converse also moved its main office to North Andover, Massachusetts.
Nike Buys Converse: 2002 to Today
In July 2003, Nike bought Converse for $309 million. In January 2013, Converse announced plans for a new main office building. It was built in downtown Boston, on the Lovejoy Wharf. This new building is 10 stories tall. It has a music recording studio, a gym, a yoga studio, and a retail store.
In May 2023, Jared Carver became the new president and CEO of Converse.
Popular Converse Products
Chuck Taylor All-Stars
Converse started making a basketball shoe in 1917. They made it better in 1922 after Chuck Taylor asked for more support and flexibility. After Converse added Taylor's signature to the ankle patch, they became known as Chuck Taylor All Stars. By the 1960s, Converse sold most of the basketball shoes. But in the 1970s, other brands became popular. Chuck Taylor All-Stars became popular again in the 1980s as cool, casual shoes.
Chuck Taylor All-Stars have been in over 650 movies! Some of these include Back to the Future, I, Robot, Grease and Stand by Me. David Tennant, who played the Tenth Doctor on Doctor Who, wore red and cream high-top Converse shoes.
The Weapon
In 1986, Converse released "The Weapon" basketball shoe. It was made in two colors to match basketball team uniforms. It came in both high-top and low-cut styles. The shoe was made of leather and had lots of padding inside for comfort. Famous basketball players Larry Bird and Magic Johnson were the first to promote "The Weapon." They were in a Converse TV ad together in 1985. Axl Rose also wore them in the Guns N' Roses music video "Estranged."
Converse has brought back "The Weapon" classic shoe several times since 1999. They also released new versions like "The Loaded Weapon" in 2003 and "The Weapon 86" in 2008. Before "The Weapon," Converse launched the "One Star" in 1974 and the "Pro Leather" in 1976.
Chuck Taylor II
A new version of the Chuck Taylor All-Star, called the "Chuck Taylor II," came out on July 28, 2015. It uses Nike technology inside. It looks mostly the same as the original on the outside. But it uses newer materials for the part you step on, making it more comfortable.
Converse in Sports
Basketball
In 2019, Converse started making performance basketball shoes again with the All-Star Pro BB. Kelly Oubre Jr. was the first player to wear this new shoe. It mixes the classic Converse look with modern Nike technology. After that, Converse signed other NBA and WNBA players. These include Draymond Green, Natasha Cloud (the first WNBA player), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, is now a main face for the brand. His special shoe, "Chase the Drip," was released in September 2022.
Past College Teams
- Marquette Golden Eagles
- Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (shoes only)
Past Basketball Teams
Auxilium Pallacanestro Torino (1984–1988)
Football (Soccer)
Current Soccer Club Teams
Liverpool (since 2023–2024 season)
Past Soccer Teams
Atlético Nacional (2001–2002)
Politehnica Timișoara (2006–2008)
Converse and Skateboarding
In the 1980s, Converse sponsored famous skaters like Jason Jessee and Rodney Mullen. In 2009, Converse started its skateboarding program under the name "Cons." They had a team of "ambassadors" like Kenny Anderson and Rune Glifberg. In 2012, they added Jason Jessee and Mike Anderson to the team.
In August 2012, Converse sponsored a skate event in Huntington Beach, California. Many skaters took part. Ben Raybourn won the main prize of $20,000.
As of July 2014, the Cons skateboard team included many talented skaters. Zered Basset filmed a new ad in July 2014. He skateboarded through New York City wearing a new skate version of the Converse Weapon shoe.
In February 2024, Converse and Phaidon released a book called Skateboard. It tells the history of skateboarding from the 1950s until today.
Converse Helps Others
Converse created a special collection called "1Hund (RED)." Fifteen percent of the money from these sales helps prevent HIV/AIDS. One hundred artists from around the world designed shoes for this collection. Professional skateboarder Anthony Pappalardo released a (RED) version of his popular skate shoe in 2010. He said he was happy to help people by doing what he loved.
In 2012, Converse was a partner in the (RED) campaign. This campaign works to stop the HIV virus from passing from mothers to their children. Their goal was to help create an "AIDS Free Generation."
In 2018, Converse worked with influential people in Los Angeles. They created a collection that honored those who help move the culture forward in the city. These people included Vince Staples and Dr. Woo.
