What is known as the “Converse”
As I’m doing my 3D object on a Converse shoe I thought it’ll be a good idea to research into the history of them just to get a better understanding of the social culture behind these shoes.
It will hopefully help me to pin point the idea that I want to get down on screen for my 3D object…which is how over history the whole view point of Converse shoe’s have changed.
For instance why they were first produced and who wore them compared to now when there are so many different styles around that they attract different groups of people
( this is just a site where you can see what types of styles there are www.schuh.co.uk)
First off though the history of Converse needs to be established.
The history of Converse with a timeline:
What most people espcially those who wear Converse know is the name Chuck Taylor whose signture appears on the logo…however he’s not the man who made the first Converse.
There was a company set up in 1908 by Marquis M. Converse which was called Converse Shoe Rubber Company.
Orginially they were making winter rubber shoes for everyone, and in 1915 they moved into making sports shoes mainly tennis shoes. It wasn’t until 1917 that they moved into making Basketball shoes.
However in 1921 Chuck Taylor a basketball player at the time walked into the factory complaining of sore feet…thus the Converse shoe we know today was born.
At first they were only made in black and white but as other basketball teams wanted them customised they added more colours.
1923 Chuck Taylors signiture was added to the logo on the ankle of all Converse shoes, but he didn’t stop there.
1935 he improves the shoe by making the first “stichless” basketball shoe, this improves the bounce of the shoe or something.
In 1949 the NBA was formed and Converse shoes pretty much are worn by all pro basketball players.
In the 1970’s other sport companies were being set up mainly Adidas and Nike, which put pressure on Converse to remain the main shoe for basketball players…but sadly this was not the case.
And as a result they are no longer the main shoe worn in basketball…instead they have added to their styles to attract different people and groups thus creating the shoe we all love today.
The few sites that I used for this history are:-
http://www.converse.com/LiveFiles/7/11/Timeline.pdf
http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-chuck-taylor.html - the offical basketball hall of fame site.
I also used http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Converse but checked all the details from the sites above.
I have also been to the Bakset Ball of Fame in Springfield MA USA, so I have some of this information in my head already.
