Colabs that Made the Converse Chuck Taylor More Relevant Than Ever

Technical performance kicks made the transition from the courts and the tracks to the sidewalks long ago, and the was at the forefront of that transition. First introduced in the 1917 as the Non-Skid before being renamed the All Star, the iconic sneaker was further refined when American semi-professional basketballer Chuck Taylor asked Converse to redesign its signature offering for more support and flexibility.

Taylor’s namesake All Stars left the parquet of the hardwood in the 1980s. New technology meant that footwear could be better engineered for the rigours of basketball, and styles like the Fast Break, Star Tech, and Cons became the new on-court go-tos.

The Chuck took this move away from the court in its stride, as Converse lightened the load of the design with a thinner, more flexible sole, and a lighter canvas build that was perfect for everyday wear. The kicks quickly became an off-court staple, and the rest is history.

GOLF le FLEUR* x Converse ‘Quilted Velvet’ Pack (2019)

Tyler, The Creator’s GOLF le FLEUR* label was continuing to set trends in 2019, and his bright and textured ‘Quilted Velvet’ pack with Converse was a solid example of that authority. The pack released alongside Tyler’s 5th studio album, Igor, in May of that year, and featured a duo of One Stars plus a Chuck 70 High in vibrant quilted purple.

TAKAHIROMIYASHITATheSoloist x Converse Chuck 70 (2019)

Takahiro Miyashita’s long-standing relationship with Converse continued with this duo of modernised Chuck 70s. Takahiro’s signature touches were all over this pack, which featured a protruding heel unit and multiple TheSoloist branding hits, as Converse seemingly gave the Japanese designer free range on their iconic silhouette.

Images via:  tetsuyaikezaki,  anchoret_boutique.

Feng Chen Wang x Converse Chuck 70 ‘2-in-1’ (2020)

The Feng Chen Wang x Converse Chuck 70 ‘2-in-1’ was released in two distinct colourways, and featured the bold layering that Feng is well known for. In Converse’s own words, ‘The Chuck 70 2-in-1 unifies two alternate sizes of Chuck 70 to converge form and style in one approach. Not dissimilar to the exploration of layering often seen in Wang’s eponymous brand and her recent Converse collaborations, the silhouette is crafted with “two” in mind: a paired organic canvas overlay, double-layered foxing tape and a modified outsole, spliced into four quadrants.’

Haven x Converse Chuck 70 GORE-TEX (2020)

GORE-TEX has long been a popular application to sneakers, and a growing interest in outdoor models during 2020 meant the year saw its fair share of drops that were guaranteed to keep you dry. The mil-spec influence and functional aesthetic of HAVEN was clear to see in their tactical take on the reliable Chuck 70. A mix of suede and full grain leather ensured a glove-like fit that promised to get even better with age. While the leather formed a water-resistant mudguard around the midsole edge, wrapping up the eyestays and heel counter for extra protection.

Brain Dead x Converse Chuck 70s (2020)

The creative collective known as Brain Dead enjoyed a strong 2020, linking up with multiple brands for killer colabs. Their Converse release featured two different interpretations of the Chuck 70 High, as well as a Bosey MC. One Chuck 70 opted for the traditional black and white make up, while the other went with a range of cow prints, but the most notable feature of both Chucks was the heightened midsole that was chopped and changed for a haphazard aesthetic.

For more collaborative deep dives, take a look at our jam-packed  Features section.

Note: This article was first published in January 2018 and updated in December 2020.