Passé. Chuck Taylor All Stars

IMAGE: LIFE.COM

Many people do not know that the All Star Chuck Taylor Converse sneaker has been produced for almost a century. The history of the All Star sneaker began in 1908 when Marquis Mills Converse founded the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in Malden, Massachusetts. Converse’s signature was first designed in 1917, and was intended to be worn by professional basketball players. Marquis Converse marketed his new shoe in 1921 by sponsoring a basketball team called the Converse All Stars. One of the team members was Charles “Chuck” Taylor who doubled as a player and salesman while traveling to high schools all over Massachusetts hosting clinics and selling All Star sneakers. The popularity of the sneakers spread when they were worn by athletes in the Olympics as well soldiers in training during WWII. This trend continued and by 1960 the Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars were worn by ninety percent of the professional and collegiate basketball players. Chuck Taylors dominated the athletic footwear market up until the 1970’s when Nike shoes came into play. Converse was eventually bought out by Nike in 2003. Today Chuck Taylor All Star shoes are worn as casual footwear and not professional athletic footwear. They still have the same look as they did nearly a century ago, with rubber soles and canvas top. Celebrities like Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Adele, and Rihanna have all been seen sporting the classic sneakers. Chuck Taylor All Stars cost around $60 dollars. 

IMAGE: CONVERSE.COM