Converse
153425
226173939
2008-07-17T04:11:56Z
65.101.250.80
/* The Weapon */
</sub>{{otheruses}}
{{Infobox_Company |
| company_name = Converse, Inc.
| company_type = [[Subsidiary]] of [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]]
| company_logo = [[Image:Converse logo.png]]
| foundation = 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts
| location = [[North Andover, Massachusetts]]
| key_people =
| industry = [[sporting goods]]
| products = [[shoe]]s, [[clothing|apparel]]
| homepage = [http://www.converse.com/ converse.com]
}}
'''Converse''' is an [[United States|American]] shoe company which has been making shoes in the early 20th century. As of 1998, Converse also produces a wide range of occupational safety shoes that resemble their regular athletic shoes, by the licensee Warson Group, Inc which is located in St. Louis, MO.
==History==
=== 1908–1941: Early days and Chuck Taylor ===
In his late 30s, Marquis M. Converse, who was previously a respected manager at a footwear manufacturing firm, opened the Converse Rubber Shoe Company (also known as the Boston Rubber Shoe Company) in Malden, Massachusetts in 1908. The company was a rubber shoe manufacturer, providing winterized rubber soled footwear for men, women, and children. By 1910, Converse was producing 4,000 shoes daily, but it wasn't until 1915 that the company began manufacturing athletic shoes for tennis. The company's main turning point came in 1917 when the Converse All-Star basketball shoe was introduced. Then in 1921, a [[basketball player]] named [[Chuck Taylor (salesman)|Charles H. or "Chuck" Taylor]] walked into Converse complaining of sore feet. Converse gave him a job. He worked as a salesman and ambassador, promoting the shoes around the [[United States]], and in 1923 his signature was added to the All Star patch. He tirelessly continued this work until shortly before his death in 1969. Converse also customized shoes for the [[New York Renaissance]] (the "Rens"), basketball's first all [[African American]] pro basketball team.
=== 1941–Present: War, bankruptcy, and new management ===
[[Image:ConverseJeans.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Red and white Chuck Taylor All Star basketball shoe.]]
When the [[United States]] entered [[World War II]] in 1941, Converse shifted production to manufacturing footwear, apparel, boots, parkas, rubber protective suits, and ponchos for pilots and troops. Widely popular during the 1950s and 1960s, Converse promoted a distinctly American image with its Converse Yearbook. Artist [[Charles Kerins]] created cover art that celebrated Converse's role in the lives of High School and College atheletes, as the essential sports shoe.
Converse lost much of its apparent near-monopoly from the 1970s onward, with the surge of new competitors, including [[Adidas]], then [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], then a decade later [[Reebok]], who introduced radical new designs to the market. Converse found themselves no longer the official shoe of the [[National Basketball Association]], a title they had relished for many years. This loss of market share, combined with poor business decisions forced Converse to file for [[bankruptcy]] on [[January 22]], [[2001]]. When the company subsequently changed hands that year, the last factory in the [[United States]] was closed. Thereafter, manufacturing for the American market was no longer performed in the [[United States]], but instead in a number of Asian and European countries, including [[China]], [[Indonesia]], [[Italy]], [[Lithuania]] and [[Vietnam]].
On [[July 9]], [[2003]], the company accepted a $305 million purchase offer from rival [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]].
Current NBA players wearing Converse include [[Dwyane Wade]], [[Kirk Hinrich]], [[Jameer Nelson]], [[Andre Miller]], [[Kyle Korver]], [[Alando Tucker]], [[Acie Law]], [[Udonis Haslem]], [[Maurice Evans]], [[Orien Greene]] and [[Mike Sweetney]].
==Style==
[[Image:converseFashion.jpg|thumb|200px|Converse fashion in [[Paris]]]]
[[Image:Largest collection of Converse All-Stars.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Joshua Mueller, [[Guinness Book of World Records]] holder for largest collection of "Chucks"]]
=== Chuck Taylor All Star basketball shoe ===
{{see details|Chuck Taylor All Star}}
The Chuck Taylor All Star shoe has developed a number of [[nicknames]] over the years, such as: "Cons", "Connies", "Chuckers", "Chucks", "Converse", "Chuckies", "Chuckie T's", or "Chucker Boots" for the higher styles. For decades the Chuck Taylor All Star basketball shoe only came in black, with a white variant released in 1947. Under pressure from [[basketball]] teams it was decided in 1966 to manufacture other colors. Different materials also began to be used, starting in the 1970s, including [[leather]], [[suede]] and [[Polyvinyl chloride|vinyl]], and even [[hemp]], rather than just [[canvas]]. Besides high-tops, low-cuts and later knee-high versions were produced. After Converse was bought by [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], operations were moved from the [[United States]] to overseas, although the design has had few alterations. The fabric is no longer 2-ply cotton canvas but 1-ply "textile" and many wearers have noticed different patterns of wear.
=== The Weapon ===
In 1986, Converse released "The Weapon" basketball shoe. Manufactured in many color schemes to match the kit colors of basketball teams, it has been available in both high-top and low cut varieties. The unique aspect of this shoe is the leather construction throughout, including the inside heel which is also heavily padded for comfort. Converse re-released "The Weapon" in 2002 and "The Loaded Weapon" in 2003.
[[Image:Weapons.JPG|thumb|right|180px|The Weapon, manufactured in many different color schemes]]
=== Special Editions ===
There have been made several special editions of Converse shoes, such as the Kurt Cobain model.
=== Musical Culture ===
Converse All Star shoes also hold a place in musical culture; specifically rock music. Many musicians choose to wear converse on-stage for comfort reasons or for fashion reasons. Chuck Taylor All Stars have become a main-stay in the wardrobe of many musicians and fans of rock music alike.
==Converse athletes==
*[[Dwyane Wade]]
*[[Elton Brand]]
*[[Kirk Hinrich]]
*[[Jameer Nelson]]
*[[Udonis Haslem]]
*[[Acie Law]]
*[[Kyle Korver]]
*[[Andre Miller]]
*[[Maurice Evans (basketball)|Maurice Evans]]
*[[Alando Tucker]]
*[[Orien Greene]]
*[[Mike Sweetney]]
==Converse college teams==
*Marquette Golden Eagles
*Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (Shoes Only)
==See also==
*[[Chuck Taylor All-Stars]]
*[[Chuck Taylor (salesman)]]
== External links ==
*[http://www.converse.com/ Official web site]
*[http://www.converse-sa.co.za/ Official South African web site]
*[http://www.theconverseblog.com/ The Converse Blog]
*[http://www.converseshoess.com/ Converse Shoes]
*[http://www.complex.com/SNEAKERS/Features/3008 Converse Red] at [[Complex Magazine]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1908]]
[[Category:Nike brands]]
[[Category:Shoe companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Clothing brands]]
[[Category:Companies based in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1990s fashion]]
[[Category:2000s fashion]]
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