Reach for the (All) Stars
Back in 1960, basketball shoes weren’t the air-filled, springy, ankle-supporting hugs-in-a-shoe that they are today. They were pretty basic, not very ergonomically designed with a comparatively thin sole, and they made one heck of a squeak on the court too. But more than any other sports shoe in history, something about the design endorsed by Chuck Taylor (basketball player for the Akron Firestones) rang true not just with basketball-loving Americans, but across the world.I would say more than half the people I know currently own or have previously owned a pair of Converse All Stars. In fact, over 60% of Americans allegedly own one or more pairs. I bought my first pair when I was 14 with my dad (who would admit that he is quite conservative and old-school) and even he loved the bright red ankle-high design. At the time of my first purchase, there wasn’t the range of colours and designs that there are today (and they originally came in a simple brown with black trim) so now, ’simple’ red All Stars might look to some Converse fans to be a bit passé and mainstream against the plethora of designs now available.
And we’re not just talking block colours here; we’re talking material and textures – as well height and styling – and yet they remain quite clearly Converse All Stars. There are Marimekko patterns from the 1960s (right) – created by the Finnish textile mill’s designers (coming with a matching cinch bag) – pop art pictures, bespoke logos, and pretty much any design imaginable.Practically every part of the All Star shoe is customisable: the shell, the tongue, the rubber edging, the lining, the laces – everything. And not just by artists and fashion designers, either. I had great fun this morning on the UK Converse website creating my own bespoke pair of leather All Stars which I quite simply named ‘Ashley’, which is emblazoned down the heel. And for £70, I’d say that’s not bad at all, given what some off-the-shelf trainers cost. I might even buy them. Here’s my effort:
There are some areas, however, where some designs of Converse All Stars haven’t been very successful, to my taste. For instance, I was strolling around Portobello Road last Sunday and I saw my first pair of high-heel All Stars (right). I can’t say I liked them. They just look a bit…hmmm. As if Dr Frankenstein had been let loose in the factory for a day. And then there are two of the various flip-flop versions which don’t look right, to my eye:
Undeniably, though, Converse All Stars are probably the most customisable shoe on the market today. And long may they continue to be. I wonder what designs Creativepool’s readership could come up with, being the creative lot that you are? For now, though, I leave you with some of the other weird and wacky designs out there:
by Ashley Morrison
Ashley is a blogger, copywriter and editor
Follow me on Twitter @Ashley_Morrison
ashleymorrison72@gmail.com
www.creativepool.co.uk/ashleymorrison
