With the exception of denim or say, the cotton t-shirt, the Converse Chuck Taylor is perhaps the most inveterate staple of American fashion. Invented in 1917, the shoe got its start as a basketball sneaker (named after basketball star and shoe spokesman Charles "Chuck" Taylor) and its style has remained relatively unchanged since its invention nearly a century ago. A shoe that's been ripped off and re-produced by competitors to death, the real deal is still a symbol of youth, creativity and counter culture fashion as much as classic Americana and simplicity -- not to mention the fact that a pair of Chucks are bought once every two seconds for a total of 1 billion pairs sold. So who can blame Converse for adopting an "if it ain't broke" attitude towards its design, which is famously flat, and lacking in arch support or bells-and-whistles cushioning?
Still, change is good, and the company is making shoe history with today's launch of the CT II, a new version of the Chuck Taylor that, using Nike Lunaron technology as a sockliner, will add massive new arch and footbed support. It's officially out on July 28th. Speaking at a press conference, Converse CEO and president Jim Calhoun outlined all of the new details of the shoe, which includes a new microfiber canvas. The shoe looks identical to the original, for all of the All-Star purists of the world, and will eventually come in a range of colors including blue, white, red and black.
Stay tuned for more details from Converse bout the Chuck II next week.
The Lunaron technology
