Converse - The Rise and Fall...And Rise Again
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- Опубліковано 4 чер 2024
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Video Description: Converse has had some major rises and falls. This video focuses on the rise of the brand, the reasons behind their 2001 bankruptcy, and how they've since recovered from it.
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Honestly, I never even saw Converse as a sports shoe. I saw them as a kind of "Punk-ish" or indie rocker kind of shoe. Am I the only one who made that association?
Probably depends on how old you are. Started as a sport shoe then tuned into fashion thing. Haven't been a sport shoe for ages.
@@YourLocalIceMan Makes sense, I'm a 90s kid so I can see that
That's what I wore them as when I was an emo kid lol. All my friends did too. I still wear them but not always in that way. I wear them with anything tho.
That is because you are young likely under 40?
I always associated Converse with emos for some weird reason
In my opinion the success came from a change of mind. They went from being sold as sports wear to being sold as a stylish iconic shoe.
Exactly, people born after 2001 don’t even associate Converse with athletics at all
But that is the result of marketing.
@@SuperMustache555 really? Lifting shoe to me
couldnt have marketed them as being so iconic if they weren't already
@@SuperMustache555 Yeah, because they are uncomfortable to walk in, let alone jump around. The rubber tip hurt when you bent your foot, awful shoes for anything other than casual stuff.
Converse perception over the years has been so interesting. They went from the basketball shoes my team wore in elementary school to being pretty much worn by skater kids and musicians for quite some time.
Yup. I only bought my first pair because I saw Geddy Lee wearing them live.
I know snoop wore them on one of his concerts.
@@Chamorrita-rg9qp snoop wears converse a lot
if you try to imagine converse on a basketball court theres vhs fuzz
And this might be a cultural or regional thing but as much as I enjoy Converse, I also remember my cholo (gangster) cousins wearing them. I think it'd be interesting to look into how converse infiltrated their style.
You can wear converse with a suit! Not many shoes can do that. They are simply iconic
THANKS :) Makes my lunch break so much better.
Ah, a man of culture
Same :)
yo it's phly lol never expected him to comment on this channel
@@joshuac5908 depending on your age, sex, and ethnicity, the algorithm tends to send recommendations to certain demographics. So if you are in the same demographic as Phly, and watch his vids, you will also likely watch mostly the same content
Same!
You missed one of the audience segments that helped bring Converse back into popularity... skaters! Skate boarders took to using converse in the late 90's and in my perception helped the resurgence in the brands popularity.
Underrated comment
Yeah, Converse found its solid place with the skater community in the early to mid '00s during one of the resurgences in skating. I was 15 in '04 when me and my friends got into skating, which led to me eventually buying a pair of Converse Hi-tops for the first time ever.
also Doctor Who fans
I'm a gen-X'er and I only remember Cons as being skater shoes. My feet would be fked up if I tried playing basketball in Chucks.
@@chickadeestevenson5440 David Tennant caught a ton of flack for insisting that his character wear Converse. From my perspective it wasn't seen in a good light by Dr. Who fans and as the shoe brand was already well into the stride of it's comeback by 2000 (years before Who was back on the air in '05) I don't think the show helped this at all.
Just my opinion though.
Converse sneakers will never die... they are truly immortal
You mean the stench. The stench of converse shoes never dies
Having been born in 2001, I always saw Converse as a fashionable shoe more then a sports shoe. When I think of "sports shoe" I think of Nike, when I think of popular teenage apparel I think of Converse.
I always just thought of them as that shoe my aunt's always wearing.
Zoomer
@@jacobjb p
I love Converse's iconic design! It was really in back in the late 2000's with the alt/emo/punk crowd, which is where in first saw them, and the reason I started using them
Heh same. There was always that one person who owned like 30 different colours to go with their hair that week… I wasn’t that girl but I certainly was jealous of her!
Started with the punks - The Ramones wore them, then Kurt Cobain, and after that they’ve kind of just always been the cool artsy person shoe
same! converse, vans, and the occasional combat boots
@@MinoTheShow Kurt wearing CT's did a lot for the brand definitely at that time.
Same. Excepting I’m only now literally this week trying converse out for the first time. I had a grey air walk knock off back when I was a tween. But for me vans has been the emo shoe Brand I’ve been rollin with since the late 2000s
Powerlifting, strongmen, and body building community love Converse.
Yep, best shoes for deadlifts.
and as someone who works in a kitchen I also swear by them.
drivers too
I have a pair specifically for leg/back day. I’d never wear them out and about, not good for the feet. Great for really planting yourself though.
yep, good flat base shoe
You should do a series of “Who were/was *insert company name*?” You could talk about companies that most people may not know but have significant history.
Agreed would love to watch examples companies that are dead or extremely smaller now
@@whatss779 I'd watch that.
Yeah, this would be really cool.
Isn’t that basically the same as the “Bigger than you know” series that he already makes??
@@karlcarlsburg9641 yup
As a kid, I loved Converse. My parents couldn't afford to get me Vans at $60-$80, but Converse was still pretty popular and was only $20. Fast forward to now, I saw them selling for like $65 and instantly ignored them. Granted, I wasn't aware they had actually improved them and assumed they were still just canvas glued on to rubber, but that still seems pretty high.
We are still waiting for a fan requested video.
*UA-cam - Why they're hated*
Yes
Yes
Yes
Si
How to get demonitozed 101
I love Converse, I have lots of colors but I honestly can't tell you what even got me into them, I have never seen a commercial for them in my life
I never saw a comercial either i only bought a pair of converse because my friends had them and they were very popular at the time
I agree. I’ve never seen a commercial. 🤷🏽♀️ I have 3 regular pair and a pair of custom designed. I love them. 😍
I first wanted them since I was a kid from the movie "Sandlot" , wearing the all blacked out Converse near the end of the movie.
I have 22 different colors and now that you've mentioned it, I've never seen a commercial either! I like them because they are comfy but certain styles have to be broken in. And they look so cute with everything! Jeans or dress pants. Also you'd be surprised at how many pair you can get a Goodwill that have only been worn once or twice. I bought 6 pair at one time!
@@claraharrison1509 oh wow I need some more that are cheaper
Michael Jordan is literally the only reason Nike is where they are today.
Not at all bro... Nike is very much Popular worldwide at every type of Sports Market... Basketball & Jordan might be Super Popular in USA but not in Europe and Asia... Nike is here today for their Marketing Innovation at various controversial fields....
@@DhrubajyotiRaja01 as far as i know, Jordan was a catalyst in the success they have today. They are not as relient on him anymore as their brand is so global now
No lies here
@@DhrubajyotiRaja01 you clearly don’t know the history of Nike and how their popularity shot up after their affiliation with mj
@@Sapphireemberss In india people wear them because they are comfortable however In the U.S I don't know.
I've been wearing chucks since the late 90s and always loved the looks. These shoes are also great for driving because you can feel the pedals. I didn't think about it before but when I wore other shoes while driving, I can definitely feel the difference.
That’s why Paul walker use them to drive
in skating we call that "boardfeel", vulcanized shoes like Chuck Taylors and Vans have a pretty nice boardfeel, although sacrificing impact protection.
@@bermado808I was gonna say that too, can't skate on anything but converse
@@xavier4519 I'm currently skating Half Cabs, but plan on getting the Chuck Taylors Pros or the Louie Lopez Mid, they look like some nice shoes
I have flat feet so I can't wear several brands of sneakers. I've wore primarily Vans but they wear down after two years or less and Converse has hands-down been my most comfortable/durable shoes yet. Everyone's feet are different so if you can wear some of the really cool shoes I see athletes wear, I commend you. I wish I could too, lol.
I recomend the Nike Blazer Lows if so, i am flat feeted and its so much better and comfortable while worn in.
2 years is ALONG time to have a pair of shoes
@@georgerodriguez5344 Yeah it is. I get about 6 months out of anything tops before I can tell the shoe is breaking down.
I came here to say this. Also, only regularly available size 14/15 US mens
Some guy at the start of this video said not to wear comfortable shoes
Grandmama was iconic... But it did more for Larry Johnson than Cons
Yeah. It really matched and fit the nineties too.
Every time my dad sees me wearing my Chucks, he is baffled and says, "That's what sneakers looked like when I was a kid! I don't know why those are popular again!" So I guess their success is a combination of nostalgia and a desire for retro/vintage clothing.
And the only time I have found my Chucks uncomfortable is when I grew out of my old pair, and thus, I was wearing a size too small. As long as I'm wearing the correct shoe size, my Chucks are comfortable. Heck, just last week I walked the width of Key West in Chucks and socks, and I never got any blisters on my feet.
No arches?
I’ve been wearing Chucks since the 1980’s. My last USA made pair lasted 15 years. The ones made in Vietnam last me 8 to 12 months. They feel the same but from a quality standpoint they are crap when compared to the USA made ones.
its prob cuz your fatter now. maybe.
Same here. They last long for me too but over the past few years I accumulated 22 pairs and I agree the ones made in vietnam really fit different. I feel like I don't have to break in the ones made in USA
Don't last & cost roughly 2x, even when adjusted for inflation.
@@claraharrison1509 even indonesian do not like vietnam made shoes (any brand). Indonesian made nikes r sturdier than those from vietnam, e. G.
I worked at converse factory after high school (late 70s). Overseas made and USA made has no difference in quality. It's just placebo effect on you. I notice it to many people not only you. I also worked for a year in Levis Valencia Factory before going to college, people also saying USA Made is better than overseas one. Where infact there's really no difference..
Edit: I have USA Made Converse that lasts me also for less than a year back then. It just depends on how do you use them.
All-stars were popular in Punk, and later Skater culture. When I wore them, in the 90s, I saw them as a subculture shoe that looked cool, like Doc Martins. I always thought that was the whole story.
Yep, Cons were mostly connected to different rock scenes (punk, alt, grunge and emo) to sa a few.
When I was a teenager me and my friends wore converse and we were the "emo kids" and no one else really wore them. They even started doing this thing online where you could design your own and put your name on them. I wish I still had them but I had a pair of pink high tops with my name sewn in cursive. I also had a pair of clear ones that were so people could see your socks. They were plastic and so uncomfortable I only wore them a few times. As I started getting older they started becoming more "normal." Now my kids have them and I still wear them.
And I forgot to say we all signed each other's shoes and drew on them with sharpies and we hated when we had to get new ones cause we liked the old worn out signed ones better.
Good old to be scene days 💔🖤
This style never gets old. It's timeless.
I have always loved Coverse. One of the most versatile and iconic designs ever. Also one of the only shoes that get better with age. Most shoes cannot say that.
Converse single handed (or footed) made the most uncomfortable shoes I’ve ever owned, I never thought a quick walk to the gas station could be such a workout until I wore a pair of Converse and came home with blisters on my feet.
Right? We never wore the canvas sneakers. No arch support. Bought the leather & suede All Stars back in the 70's but that's it.
I stepped on a rock once with these shoes and wound up hurting my foot. I tossed them aside and went back to wearing regular, cushioned sneakers.
I hear ya there, I had a pair of chucks in the mid 90's and only wore them a week due to blisters on my feet, and poor support, I went to Vans, and stayed with them for years, but a few years ago after bad heels, and my Vans just wearing out so fast at work, I switched to Sketchers, and have not looked back as they are some of the best most comfortable shoes I've ever owned, and I can say that as someone who's on their feet for 90% of their work day.
Not good for general wear. Really bad for the feet.
Totally agree, hate the things and always have, if you wore them as a kid and played outside a lot they fell to bits, not to mention how totally uncomfortable the things are compared to just about any other type of shoe
The 1991 episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood where they show how sneakers were made is how I first heard of Converse. I don't remember wearing them, though, I don't keep track of the companies that make my shoes very often.
I was born in 89 and I have always seen Converse shoes as the ones that the 'different' kids wear. They make me think about indie films, kids living in the Midwest, etc.
Thinking of them as basketball shoes is very strange to me
i’m an emo kid at heart so i’ll always love converse… regardless of how many blisters i amassed during my youth because of them! i remember i even did a project on the company for my freshman biology class, i had forgotten about it until this video haha
for biology??? what does it have to do with shoes
@@pitbull635 Maybe biomechanics, how people's foot shape can change over time in response to stuff and stuff? I'd like a followup too though.
I had a pair of Magic Johnson Weapons in the late 80s. They were my favourite shoes and I wore them until they fell apart. I'd wear them to church if my parents didn't notice. Once, while getting Doc Rivers' autograph (while he was a player for the Atlanta Hawks) he said "nice shoes."
I love Converse. They're near all I ever wear. They're my everydays, they're what I skate in, I even have "dress Converse." If you were to ask me what I think of them, I'd tell you they suck. The improvements fall short. (At least as a skater) Sure, they trade the canvas for suede, but the soles are still just so quickly kicked away. They've tried making boot soles and they just peel away. Fuck arch support, you'll be lucky to even have a shoe with a bottom very long. Converse suck. Converse suck and I won't stop wearing them.
I never wore Converse
i know lots of girl friends that also almost exclusively wear converse and they also say that they‘re not that comfortable yet still wear them every day. really strange
@@haus16a, give them my advice. Sell the shoes if they don’t fit.
@@christianbolisca1493 ive told them something similar - like why are you wearing shoes that are uncomfortable for you? but they said something along the lines of „ive been wearing them for years“ or „they fit my style“ or sth like that
You nailed it "Converse suck and I won't stop wearing them". I can't stand arch support and I like the way they look .... over-priced sons of bitches
The weightlifting boom over the years also played a huge role. Go to any gym, you will see Converse all over the place.
I 've been wearing Chuck's my whole life since the mid 80's. They used to be $20 or cheaper. They would last for at least 3 years wearing them everyday. Even the one-star style. The more you wear them the more comfortable They get. They are a classic shoe for musicians. They were good for skateboarding before Vans made it to the East coast. Vans. When Nike bought out Converse, the price went up and the quality went down. They last about 6months now if you wear them everyday.
This. As a musician raised by musicians, Chucks were always a part of my life. Vans slip-ons as a close second (classic checkerboard pattern). In my opinion, Converse missed the opportunity to get in ground-floor as an alternative fashion brand, something Paul Van Doren embraced very early on. They had enough free advertising from the Ramones and other punk bands starting in the '70s. I still have a pre-Nike pair of Chucks that I wear on special occasions. Are they comfortable for my feet? No. Do they look great with black Levi's and a t-shirt? Absolutely.
Yes you said it perfectly!!
According to google, "Adjusted for inflation, $20.00 in 1980 is equal to $67.92 in 2021." A brand new pair of high top, regular chucks will run you $60.
I’ve had my black high tops for 4 years and they’re still going strong 💪🏼
@@aquarius1830 yeah but do you wear them everyday?
I was saying a few weeks ago that nike handled their acquisition of converse better than adidas did theirs of reebok.
reebok is now under adidas?
@@hollow_w33n since 2006 but they want to sell them
@@traurigeswehrecords1791 Gosh they haven't finalized the deal yet? They really need to let reebok go, they have done enough damage.
@@hollow_w33n company man made a video about it. Here ua-cam.com/video/RAM8s7lNXtw/v-deo.html
@@hollow_w33n not anymore. I think they dropped them earlier this summer if not this past spring
We need a UA-cam: Why they’re hated video
Susan W.: into the trash it goes!
Instant demonetization!
Thanks for making the Converse. I worked for them in sales and then Sports Marketing 1979-1999.
As a young employee I saw everything you described happen in front of my eyes.
My intuition then, was telling me we are not on the path of marketing, innovation and what have you.
I actually came up with my own Converse Marketing in my region, only to be looked on as an employee not following their rules.
I had some successful Marketings events despite corporate.
My first pair were navy low cuts in 4th grade (begged my mom to get them though it was expensive for us), until I grew out of them and transitioned into my classic black leather All-Stars circa 2004 (bought that same year, called them my I-Robot/Will Smith Chucks), which I still have and wear to this day. Oldest pair of shoes I own and in the best shape without any treatment or upkeep.
I can't believe Chucks are $70
The last time I bought a pair they were $20 and it was the worst $20 I ever spent lmao.
The regular old school black or white style are around $50
The new updated version as well as the custom colored styles are around $75
Yeah last time I bought the regular gray they were $40 and now they're like $54. I need some new black and gray ones and some high tops too
LOLLLLLL my classic black high tops were $60 at a Shoe Carnival and even at Journey's
Id rather pay the extra money for the Chuck 70 than buy another pair of classic chucks. It is just the superior model comfortwise for a chuck shoe
@@Menaceblue3 they are $85, I work there
Being flat-footed, and having to be on my feet all day, the Chuck Taylor is one of the only shoes I consider for work.
What about Vans?
Find better shoes.....it's 2021
Usually with flat foot comes ankle issues (i know i have both) and such an unsupportive shoe isn't going to do you any good.
@@Rentta Agreed 100%, I'm 40 now, but in my mid 30's I switched to Sketchers as they have good support for my feet, and I refuse to wear any other brand unless it's my steel toe sneakers from Brama when I'm doing yard work with my chainsaws.
@@stephenbarabas6286 no thanks. I’ll keep doing what I like, bud.
As a teen in the 90s, I definitely remember Chucks being part of a look/style - just like Doc Martens. None of us wore them as an athletic crowd. More like the alternative crowd.
I found when I was in middle/high school in the early 2010s they were huge. If you didn't have Converse you weren't cool in middle school because that was the trend. I had a pair because I genuinely did like the look, but I never found them comfortable to wear long-term and so I never bought another pair again. The aesthetic is still nice, and I'm hoping the 2015 2.0 is actually more comfortable.
I got used to the lack of arch support, haven't worn anything but Converse low tops in twenty years. Including in winter with snow
Converse are the GOAT. Been using them my whole life
I can tell your outfit game is dreadful lmao
Same here I think I owned at least about 7-10 pairs my whole life
If your shoes are goats that would suck just saying
I was born 1989 and growing up in the 90s I knew them more so from 80s movies since at that point they were out of fashion and people used to wear more chunky shoes like Nikes or Buffalos. Then they came back in the early 2000s with the rise of pop punk bands. I was around 13 when I got my first pair and loved them. I‘m thinking about getting a new pair, because I still like the look of it. It’s definitely giving an alternative vibe.
I *loved* convers high tops when I was in high school. My dream was to own a pair of high high toppers, the ones that go up to the knees. I did when I reached my senior year.
I want the “Rise and Fall…and Ride again…and Fall again” series on companies!!
The only style of shoe I actually enjoy in converse, that's the main reason I've stuck to them since middle school
We have been watching your channel every week for over a year. You the man!
I love converse. The Chuck Taylors are probably my favorite shoe of all time and I’ve been wearing them consistently since I was a teenager. I got into them because so many rock stars and bands wore them, and honestly I didn’t even know they used to be a basketball shoe. Goes to show how well their marketing has been under the Nike ownership.
I'm in my late 40's and I still wear my low cut all stars. I started wearing them in the 90s when I was a skate punk and just always liked them. I'm actually glad the 90s are back in style because all my old clothes are relevant again
Converse is extremely popular with weight lifting. It's the only shoe I'll wear on leg day and back day
Any reasons why? Cause I've noticed that lot of people wear those at the gym. Personally I do it only for the looks lol
@@iwilitu6591 the flat sole helps with stability on squats and deadlifts (and a multitude of other exercises)
Thank you so much for making this video!!! I have been wearing Converse for a while now. I can't exactly remember how long, but, I've been wearing them. I absolutely love Converse!! I do get that some people don't like these shoes cause they can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. But, they are my favorite shoes and I will keep wearing them until I die. Right now, I'm wearing the Converse Chuck 70s in black and red, and they are very comfortable! I wear them to work everyday and I love them so much!!!🥰💜💜💜
I was born in 02 and were really popular in movies in the 90’s. However I didn’t see them from about 05 to like now. I just bought some yesterday as they’re my favorite shoes, these and Vans. They’re really comfortable on the heels on my feet now, contrary to being really flat on the bottom of youre feet, leaving them sore after a long day of elementary school.
Converse shoes were never meant to be worn everyday. They’re meant to be worn irregularly never a main shoe. Anybody wearing these everyday can speak to this. I had the same issue with wearing them everyday when I was in middle school. I stopped wearing them because they don’t make them in my size and I’d rather have a better shoe for my money nowadays.
Buy Rick Owens. It's the chunkier & designer version of converse lol.
I have Converse shoes (and other similar shoes) almost every single day for the last 10 or so years and I love them, maybe its because I dont need arch support
Are we going to just ignore how emo culture popularized Converse with the casual audience?
….I think might just be a you thing bro. I’m not gonna say Emo culture didn’t help but Emos are not what I think of when I think about chuck taylors.
Literally. Definitely depends on your age, but I remember them being the scene and emo kid shoe of choice. I remember all so many emo aesthetic pictures with converses.
Def an emo and scene thing. That's how I started wearing them back in like 2006 and on. We would all sign each other's converse and draw on them with sharpie. We didn't think they looked good new either.
he missed out on The Doctor as well!
Skaters were wearing chuck Taylors before the word emo even existed.
I used to only wear converse in high school back in the early 2010s, now I'm almost 30 and just remembered this brad still exists, I was browsing their website earlier today and remembered when I used to wear it and am thinking about getting a pair this week, they still look so cool!
I have been wearing Converse for a long time, and the only problem I really have with them is that the soles are very fragile. You have to buy a new pair every year or so because the sole starts to become incredibly loose and starts breaking off. It’s a really big problem that they really need to fix.
As someone who spends most of his time wearing leather shoes I can tell you that Chuck's are relatively comfortable. However I wear them to the gym. A lot of people like to lift in them.
The fact that they're flat makes them good for deadlifting. Though if you tend to do a lot of high bar squats and a lot of Olympic lifts invest in some heels
I'll ask again, what about Waste Management? It is such a great story. Your listeners deserve to hear it.
You missed one thing: 2021 has been Converses' big push back into the basketball market. They've moved Draymond Green from Nike basketball to Converse for promotional reasons. He's been on the court and in Subway commercials wearing the Converse branding. They also added Converse to there Space Jam line of shoes and products. It'll be interesting to see if it works because apparently it's going a bit unnoticed lol.
For my entire life I've seen Converse as a fashion brand. Chucks were popular among the punk and grunge subcultures when I was a kid in the late 90s/early 2000s, and I'm betting that was a majority of what kept them afloat during the dark times.
I love Converse, my all time favorite shoe brand. I have been wearing them for about 6 years now and this past July I was gonna get the Converse Lugged in black or white, but there was a recent collab at the time between Converse and Rick Owens. My dad came across a post on Facebook with the main advertising photo for the collab and he was disgusted by it. He saw the pentagram and the models for the shoes and didn't want to do nothing with Converse anymore. My dad is Christian so this made matters worse. He came over to me and told me I could never buy Converse again because of that collab. I got super mad, but I'm not giving up on Converse, I still support them and see nothing wrong with it. It just sucks how I was gonna buy some Converse, then my dad says no, and now Converse are coming back into a trend right now.
Converse were super popular at my high school in the late 00's, though never as an athletic shoe. They were seen as retro, which was the style of the time.
And that style has come back lol
I got my first pair of converse a few years ago. They were low tops, super comfy. I bought a new pair of low tops when I'd finally walked through those, and also a pair of high tops. The high tops are a pain to put on but both pairs have been super comfy for me! I wrekt that first pair by making them my work shoes after my NB's started to fall apart. IDK why but these have worked super well for me. I haven't had an issue with lack of cushion or arch support at all.
I love watching these videos so informational and educational. Thanks company man 😁
Hey, Company Man. You should definitely do a video on Sega explaining the rise, fall and rise again! Sega were best known for their gaming consoles such as the popular Sega Genesis (known as the Mega Drive in Japan and PAL regions), and they were best known for their arcade hits and popular franchises such as Sonic the Hedgehog. By 2001, Sega was restructured as a 3rd party game developer as they that they stopped making game consoles altogether as the Japanese based video game company went through financial debt and its on the verge towards bankruptcy. They eventually bounced back though. Please do a video on that, Company Man!
I LOVE converse shoes. They been the only brand of shoes i’ve worn my whole life.
I think part of the appeal at least for me is that they incorporated a system where you can go online on their website and customize a pair of chucks in a lot of different ways to make a shoe that is unique. They were very appealing to me back in the early 2000s because I could customize the shoe and have something that was one of a kind. I still have a pair that are black with green a purple stitching and trim. It's another neat thing that Chucks do that stand out for me.
I had a pair of Converse made for Sears shoes when I was on my high school basketball team in the early 70s. I still love Chucks!
Only ever owned 2 pairs of cons [personally wasn't crazy about em]...
the worst part of wearing converses for me was that hole in the side. any rain or moisture on the ground and your feet would be soaked all day- which sucked when you're growing up in the pacific northwest.
It was only very recently that I bought myself some Converse “Chuck Taylor all stars” and honestly I regret not having done so before because I love them!!
They are comfortable lightweight. I like their simplicity. No reinforcements that weaken the ankles. A flexible sole that allows you to feel the ground.
In short, effective shoes without unnecessary gadgets
What's funny is that alot of breakdancers and b-boys as well as hip hop dancers LOVE the old converse. The connection you got to the floor with them was pretty nice for that kind of movement.
I love converse. The only shoe I actually feel comfortable and like myself when worn. Mine have lasted me about two to three years of my feet hadn’t grown. I’ve only gotten rid of one and that’s because of two years I had finally started out growing them and had worn out a hole 😅 I have about 6-7 pairs and I wear them constantly
I’ve always viewed Converse as a casual shoe company instead of an athletic shoe. I’ve always wondered how they did it back in the day when they were playing basketball in them. There must have been a ton of ankle and foot injuries. I’ve owned several pairs over the years and even the simple act of running or jogging is awkward in these shoes due to the lack of arch and ankle support.
Pretty good information, largely accurate. I bought athletic footwear for a mid-major department store in the 90s and check this out: they started building them overseas at a greatly reduced cost to them, but raised the cost price to the retailer and the retailer passed that on to the consumer price. Converse was desperate. They didn't have any decent performance products - the Wade shoes came later. So Nike bought and made them almost (almost) exclusively fashion.
There was a time back in the 1980s where the Chuck All-Stars could not be found, where I lived, among the suburb retailers in the San Francisco Bay Area; but I did find retailers in Los Angeles in the mid-1980s that carried them; which thrilled me when I visited that region in 1986.
Company Man said the Converse company was going through an acquisition back then, so that may explain the lack of retail availability in the Bay Area in the mid-'80s.
Chuck Taylor's, VW Beetle, Levi 501's & The Fender Stratocaster epitomise timelessness.
Agree, but I'd replace a Strat with a Les Paul. No arguing that Strats are iconic, Les Paul's work for everyone (lead, rhythm, tone, genre, aesthetic, big hands, small hands). My hands are too dainty for a Stratocaster, so I realize I'm biased.
These shoes are simply timeless.
converse are quite possibly the most comfortable shoe ive worn (for lifting) out of any other, the flat sole helps me plant my feet completely to the floor as if im only wearing socks, and the stability is just great.
I have never thought of them as uncomfortable, but I probably started buying them after the updates. The lack or arch support has never bothered me, although hiking boots are certainly a better option for long walks. One of my favorite things about the Converse Chuck Taylor shoes are the lightweight comfort. The appearance is also fantastic to me, the classic black textile with white stitching looks so good and goes well with any clothes. I used to have a pair that was a black-gray plaid and I miss those so much.
Same
I still like converse. I like how they look and don’t mind how they feel for normal use. I actually have a custom colored pair from about 6 years ago that’s held up really well. I also like the broad color choice overall. It just makes it seem more fun.
Interestingly, some younger nba players have actually picked converse as their shoe brand- shai gilgeous alexander being their main guy
I love my Converse! I've always been pretty hard on shoes and they just last so much longer without getting holes!
I've been using Converse shoes for my mountain biking. I find the flat rubber sole offers better grip on flat pedals than other shoe brands.
we love you company man!
Some of these time periods seemed a few years off to me. Then again, everyone has their own personal history with these shoes. I may just be remembering differently. The popularity of the Chuck Taylors made a lott of big shifts throughout the lifetimes of all demographics likely too.
Oddly enough, as I've gotten older I wear the Chuck Taylor oxford more often than when I was younger (I'm 40). I don't wear them if I know I'm going to be on my feat for multiple hours, but they look great with just about everything - especially for a "tee-shirt and jeans guy." I used to run a Shoe Carnival store for multiple years, and over that time I saw the brand grow from a more niche product to the full blown fashion sensation they are today - with wild and wacky colors and styles to fit any taste. From a fashion perspective, they really have stood the test of time. Great video. :)
I bought a pair of Chucks after seeing MacGyver (the original) wearing a pair in the s2e18 "Partners". I wore them a little bit during 1987 but they weren't very comfortable.
A couple decades later I bought two pair (low top and high top) as part of my "Green Shirt" and "Nerd Herd" costumes from the TV series "Chuck". Mine are Navy as opposed to Black, like Chuck wore.
This is a truly wild and crazy story.
I'm actually wearing a pair right now (white shoe/leopard-print tongue) 💯💯
I always saw chucks as a shoe in the rock and roll/music scene. I was surprised to find out they were originally basketball shoes. I agree, they definitely weren't very comfortable. I haven't bought any new ones in a while, so I wonder how much that has changed.
I feel the were recognized as a casual shoe , I love my Converse . Great video .
Before there was Nike, there was Converse.
And Nike bought converse
There was and is Adidas... still better than converse or nike
i find my converse to my most comfy sneakers. i'm very flat footed and my feet are wide so they fit me well and my feet dont feel weird or squished.
Bought my first pair in 2000. Still wear them to this day. I find them comfortable for normal walking, but if I'm at fair or walking alot I need something better.
I did hike a 3000ft mountain from sea level in Alaska in a pair. I felt proud of myself when I got to the top and the first person I ran into was wearing a pair.
I'm 35 and I still wear converse daily mostly! Just simple beautiful and straight to the point. Would never change for something else
may i suggest a video on "Which Wich Superior Sandwiches " and how they failed? i see none of them around anymore, almost like they are all closed. (edit update: there are some still around just where i live, there is not that many)
As someone with severe flatfoot, those are unwearable. It's the equivalent of working out in flip-flops.
Which Suck for your feet.
@@stephenbarabas6286 flatfoot doesn't make your feet hurt. It makes your entire body hurt from the lack of proper arch support. People with flatfoot suffer most from back and calf pain.
I've always walked hard on my heels, and flat footed. I had one pair of Chucks in the mid 90's which lasted me a week before hitting the back of my closet to never be worn again, as they where some of the most uncomfortable shoes I've ever worn. I've owned Payless, and KMart shoes with better comfort, and quality. I'm 40 now, but in my mid 30's I switched to Sketchers after catching pair on sale, and have not looked back, as they are worth every penny as I'm on my feet for the vast majority of my work days moving non stop, and it's one of the few brands I can find in mens extra wide 8.5 US without having to special ordering them, or needing to add gimmicky insoles to.
@@CommodoreFan64 Extra wide shoe sizes, That's another thing regular people don't know about lol going to a shoe store and having like 5% of stock available in 4E+.
I have great nostalgia for these shoes from my grade school days circa 2008. Toms were to a lesser extent a fashionable casual shoe, but Conerse was always the gold standard. Might need to check out those Chuck 2s...
In the early 90s when they became "on trend" again it had me scratching my head as to why they seemed so expensive compared to what I grew up with?! It wasn't until someone posted an old ad from Keds that I realized we had been wearing their version of All-Stars in the day and yes, they were quite a bit cheaper!