Chuck Taylor

Believe it or not, this classic lifestyle shoe is the pioneer of all basketball trainers! Yes, that’s right, the iconic Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star is one of the first few basketball shoes ever created and is over a century old now. Its honourable reputation and popularity in the footwear market gave the Chucks leverage. Today, the shoe is an immortalised piece of history.

It all began in 1917 when Converse Rubber Shoe Company created a basketball shoe. First called the “Non-Skid” this basketball shoe focused on providing grippy traction on all surfaces. It features a canvas and upper a rubber sole.

Converse signed American semi-professional basketball player Charles “Chuck” Taylor in 1921 as a salesman and brand ambassador. With Chuck’s experience as a hooper, he then suggested a new design for the Non-Skid. His recommendations focused on more ankle support and flexibility.

In 1922, the brand officially updated the Non-Skid and called it the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star. Brand logos adorn the medial side of the collar and the heel rubber midsole.

Chuck travelled all over the USA and promoted the game of basketball as well as promote the shoes. He eventually became a playing manager for the Chicago Converse All-Stars Team as professional basketball athletes rocked the Chucks.

From 1938 to 1968, the Chuck Taylor became the main footwear model of the Olympics. By the 70s, Chucks became a household name as a lifestyle shoe as more modern hoop shoes pushed it out of the rotation.

The Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star is without a doubt an iconic sneaker. Despite Nike owning Converse now, the former continues to honour the legacy of the latter by releasing multiple Chuck 70s and All-Stars even today. Sales remain consistent as the shoes are widely available.

Below you can check out some of the hottest and most recent Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star releases.