It was in 1908 in Maldon, Massacchussets when Marquis M. Converse opened the Converse Rubber Shoe Company. Also known as the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, it has been making shoes since the early 20th century, providing winterized rubber soled footwear for men, women and children. 2 years later, Converse, being a rubber shoe manufacturer, produced 4,000 shoes daily and in 1915 started manufacturing tennis shoes.

In 1917, Converse All-star basketball shoes were introduced, a real innovation considering that the sport was only 25 years old. The big break came in when it was endorsed by basketball player Charles H. “Chuck” Taylor as his preferred shoe of choice.

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Original Skate Pack Punk Prints

In 1921 he went in complaining of sore feet. Converse came to his rescue by not only alleviating the pain but by giving him a job.Being impressed with the company’s shoe designs, he worked as a salesman and ambassador promoting the shoes all over the United States thereby becoming the company’s leading salesman. Then, after a few changes to the shoe have been made upon his proposal, Converse shoes got it’s current name and Chuck Taylor’s signature on it’s ankle patch.Chuck Taylor All Star basketball shoes have also been referred to as “Cons”, “Connies”, “Chucks”, “Converse”, “Chuckie T’s” and “Chucker Boots” for the higher styles.

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Hi Original Skate Pack Punk Prints

Colored and patterned shoelaces became so popular to complement Converse’s two colored black and white trademark before 1966 in order to match each basketball team’s specific colors. This was brought about by the consumers demand for more varieties on the shoe and pressure from the different basketball teams.Eventually, it wasn’t only about the colors but more styles came out. Low-top or “Oxford”, high-top and later, knee-high versions were produced. Construction materials for these styles include leather, suede, vinyl, denim and hemp. There were even some versions that were offered without laces and are held up by elastic. All of these new designs were co-designed by Chuck Taylor himself who tirelessly continued his work until his death in 1969.

Converse All Star Hi

Afterwards, the design has had a few alterations after Converse was bought by Nike and operations were moved from the United States to overseas. From the usual 2-ply cotton canvas, the fabric became 1-ply “textile” and different patterns of wear have been noticed by many wearers.Currently, Converse has also been producing a wide range of occupational safety shoes for men and women that resemble their regular athletic shoes. Some of which are the women’s metaflex athletic Met Guard work shoe, men’s athletic Met Guard slip-resistant hiker and the men’s non-metallic safety-toe athletic shoe. Not only were these shoes built to last but are made up of genuine leather offering minimal electric resistance, shock-resistant heels, foam insoles and a special moisture resistant lining to keep your feet dry all day. What’s more is that they’re metal free so it’s really perfect for those on high-risk jobs, everything that a work shoe has to have to protect you from occupational hazards.Converse, a name that holds a century of innovation and footwear history in itself. What else can you ask for? Name it, they have it. Be it Converse classic shoes, Converse lifestyle shoes or Converse performance shoes, Converse gives you the freedom to express yourself by choosing whichever fits your mood, style and wardrobe.
]]> http://converseallstarhitop.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/converse-shoes/feed/ 0 nucareja http://converseallstarhitop.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/blue-chuck-taylor-styles-and-sizes/ http://converseallstarhitop.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/blue-chuck-taylor-styles-and-sizes/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:16:20 +0000 nucareja http://converseallstarhitop.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/blue-chuck-taylor-styles-and-sizes/ ]]>

Did you know that Blue Chuck Taylor shoes are available in three separate shades and in numerous styles and sizes?

If you’ve had your “ear to the Chuck Taylor ground” you will likely already know that the once-simple collection has expanded into literally hundreds of different colors, prints and are now also available in various styles.

But – if we’re just talking “the Blues” – here’s what’s available for consumers these days…

• Navy Blue Chuck Taylor – The darkest of the three blue shades available, the Navy’s come in Hi Tops, Lo Tops (Called “Ox”) and Slip-On styles. All three of these styles come in sizes for men, women, kids, toddlers and infants too.
• Royal Blue Chuck Taylor – This may just be the most popular blue of the three shades and is available in Hi Top and Lo Top styles for men, women, kids, toddlers and infants.
• Carolina (or “Baby”) Blue Chuck Taylor – Like the Royal Blue shade, these come in Hi Top and Lo Top (“Ox”) styles, but are available in men’s and women’s sizes only.

All of the Converse Chuck Taylor classic shoes are built with a canvas upper as well as a vulcanized rubber sole for flexibility and traction. Many folks love them because of the way they look (the classic “Chucks” look) while some favor the fact that all of the canvas shoes in the collection can simply be “tossed in the washer” to get them totally clean with regular wear.Then again, there are some people who love them so much that they collect every color that they can get their hands on and have a pair that will literally go with anything in a casual wardrobe!

No matter which category you fall under if you’re looking for any of “the blues”, the above will give you the best idea of what’s available just from the basic line.

Shopping and Pricing Information: Blue Chuck Taylor All Star shoes retail for around $40-$45 (less for children’s sizes), but they can be found online for quite a bit less.
]]> http://converseallstarhitop.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/blue-chuck-taylor-styles-and-sizes/feed/ 0 nucareja http://converseallstarhitop.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/hello-world/ http://converseallstarhitop.wordpress.com/2009/04/03/hello-world/#comments Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:11:14 +0000 nucareja ]]> Recently I took a good look into the Converse All Star line and was a bit surprised to find that the most popular color in the whole collection (other than basic black or white) is Chuck Taylor Green! Most people at one time or another have owned at least one pair of Converse All Star shoes (me included) and as it turns out more people who own one or more of the basic colors available own a pair in Green. (The bargain-basement prices on this color are a bit higher than other colors too, indicating a higher demand.) If you’re on the lookout for a pair for yourself or someone you know, here’s what you can count on in terms of what’s available: Hi Tops are probably the all-time favorite in the green – classic Hi Top shoes. These have a sturdy canvas upper with a flexible rubber sole. The hi upper provides additional ankle support and they’re amazingly versatile for any casual wardrobe. Lo Tops – These is the original Chuck Taylor style and is a fun look in itself. Easy to slip on and off and are also the favorite shoes of many people all over the world and are also quite versatile for casual dress. Double Upper – This is my personal favorite in the Chuck Taylor Green collection. There are two uppers, one lying lower than the other to reveal a contrasting color beneath. Both uppers for the shoe have eyelets so one, both or neither of the uppers can be laced for three distinctly different looks. In the year 2008, the Double Upper shoe from this line became extremely popular – even to the point it was hard to keep them in stocks for some merchants online. These are (in my opinion) the most fun and funky shoes in the entire All Star line. Chuck Taylor shoes are for anyone. The various styles include men’s and women’s sizes as well as versions for toddlers and infants. There’s even a sweet little crib shoe version that are even great for newborns and are absolutely darling. If you’re wondering what a pair of Green Chuck Taylor shoes might cost, it really depends on the size and style you buy – for example an adult size pair of shoes will cost more than for kids or toddlers, while the simple classic design of All Star shoes will cost a bit less than say the “Double Upper” design. However – generally speaking if you’re paying retail prices you can count on anywhere from $40 to $50 for adult sizes, a bit less for kids and even less for the smaller toddler and infant sizes. There are resources online that can be tapped into to buy Chuck Taylor shoes for discount prices, one just needs to know where to look.