Today is

By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Converse introduction

Converse. They are more than just shoes, nostalgia, or a fashion statement. The history of Converse shoes spans the history of 20th century America and the evolution of basketball. Converse shoes revolutionized the sport of basketball and witnessed the birth of rock and roll. Sixty percent of all American own or have owned at least one pair of Converse sneakers.

In 1908, Marquis M. Converse, in his late 30's and previously a respected manager at a footwear manufacturing firm, opened the Converse Rubber Shoe Company for business in Malden, Massachusetts and begins providing winterized rubber soled footwear for men, women, and children. By 1910 Converse Rubber Company was producing 4,000 pairs of shoes daily, but it wasn't until 1915 that the company began manufacturing athletic shoes for tennis. Basketball, less than 25 years old, was revolutionized in 1917 when Converse designed and produced the world's first performance basketball shoes, the Converse All Star.

Converse and Americam icon

More than shoes, Converse is a story of legends, heroes and innovators tied together by the love of sport. It’s a script that spans nearly a hundred years – the ultimate highlight reel. When Marquis M. Converse opened the doors of the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in Malden, Mass., in 1908, he had no idea that he was really manufacturing an American icon.

Throughout the 20th century, Converse delivered a consistent procession of standout sports performance footwear including the shoe that revolutionized basketball and would later would later become a favorite worldwide, the Chuck Taylor® All Star®.

Converse has to share

Converse and the Chuck Taylor All Star no longer completely dominate the trainers market as they did at one time, but having sold more than 500,000,000 pairs they have certainly proved their worth over 90 years. The Chuck Taylor All Star trainer has changed very little in all that time, apart from perhaps the colour, and it's absolutely incredible that it should still be going strong - it is the ultimate in retro trainers!

CONCLUSION

Converse shut down the US factory and moved to Asia. The tables turned in July 2003, when Nike bought Converse for $300+ million. Nike decided to keep the original "Chuck Taylor" look, and they retroed many of Converse older models. Nike owns Converse now, but Converse is and will always be remembered in the "Shoe Game". They made a mark in sneaker history that can’t be removed.