Converse's 2020 Highlight Reel

While some younger companies may have been on the brink of collapsing under pressure from the challenges faced in 2020, Converse drew on their 100-plus years of industry experience and stuck to what they knew best, while simultaneously advancing their latest and greatest products. Perhaps most importantly, the moves they’ve been making this year have helped lay some valuable foundations for future generations. Here’s a recap of what Converse were up to in 2020.

Balling Out

Following a prolonged absence, Converse resumed making performance basketball shoes in 2019 with the All Star Pro BB. Packed full of sports tech (some of it thanks to a very close relationship with Nike) and rocked by key athlete Kelly Oubre Jr., the flagship model received a timely update this year in the All Star Pro BB Evo.

Furthermore, Converse signed NBA All-Star Draymond Green to their all-star roster (pun intended) in 2020. The accompanying G4 model advanced the old-school ERX line in a modern package of Nike’s React and Zoom Air tech. You can’t help but get the feeling that 2021 for Converse basketball will only be bigger and better.

All Stars Program

Beyond product, Converse have been making concerted efforts to support a global community of young creatives. They’ve been refining the program for the past two years, forming a network of over 3000 young creatives from over 27 cities around the world. ‘We know there’s massive inequalities in access to careers within creativity,’ says Converse CMO Jesse Stollak. ‘If we create new pipelines of experience, we can open an engine for youth opportunity.’ Some positive outcomes in 2020 included workshops with industry leaders like Virgil Abloh and Samuel Ross on how to break into the industry, and general design pointers.

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