The ConverseAll Stars has been anall-starslayer since 1917.
Can you recall the first time you wore a pair of All Star sneakers? It felt amazing, right? Like you had joined some kind of cool gang, and I’m sure you still get the same feeling every time you wear them. When it comes to these sneakers, the older they are, the more we fall in love them.
Converse All Stars is possibly the one sneaker that makes everyone feel bomb; fromBeyonce to the guy at Joburg’s hip spot Great Dane, to the guy at SAFW or the Commerce student at UCT.
So what has made All-Star the most popular sneaker since the 1900s?
Luke Ruiters in The GQ fashion department helps us understand why the sneakeris legendary.
Rich history
All Stars were made popular by American basketball player Charles ‘Chuck’ Taylor in 1923. That’s why the sneakers are often referred to as Converse Chuck Taylors. Taylor was sponsored by theConverse Company, called The Converse All Stars. From then, the sneaker’s popularity grew and became the go-to shoe for many basketball players. After that, the shoe moved on to be worn by soldiers and Olympic athletes.
All Stars are iconic
Not many sneakers have the ability to stay relevant over the years. Fashion trends have changed over the years, but the Converse sneaker has remained consistent; and in doing so has reached‘icon-status’. ‘The Converse brand is iconic; the design style is simple yet classic,’ Luke explains.
Versatility
Whether you are going to the market, on holiday, at work, or getting married; you can wear a pair of Converse sneakers. Their versatility eases stress for people who don’t enjoy carrying a lot of clothes when they travel. You can just pack them, then mix and match them with different looks.
Longevity
In terms of wear and tear, most of us who own All Star sneakers will agree that they are one of the strongest shoes around. We think it mostly has to do with that rubber sole.In fact, for some of us, an All Starsneaker we got as a teenager outlives us as our shoe size changes.
Wardrobe staple
‘The Converse All Star is an essentialwardrobe staple, along with your plain white t-shirt and light washed denim,’ Luke explains. The sneaker is afashion staple and it doesn’t seem like it will be changing anytime soon.
