CONVERSE
DEBUTS ITS PREMIUM FALL 2008 INSPIRED FOOTWEAR COLLECTIONS CELEBRATING
THE BRAND’S INDELIBLE CONNECTIONS TO MUSIC AND CULTURE
Key collections
include Chuck Taylor® All Star®
All Star Light, Chuck Taylor
All Star
Electronic Music, Grateful Dead, Jack Purcell® Specialty, Odessa,
Wave Trainer, Extensions and Converse by John Varvatos Bosey Boots
North
Andover, MASS (June 2, 2008) – Celebrating Converse’s
diverse and authentic historical roots in sports and pop culture,
the company introduces a selection of premium footwear for Fall 2008.
A continuation of the brand’s 100th anniversary celebration,
the collections reference the brand’s undeniable influence
on pop culture and music with decidedly modern styling, materials
and detailing. Using references that range from secret geometry to
electronic music, and the Grateful Dead, each of the unique styles
are designed to honor the genres and movements in music and culture
that have disrupted the status quo.
"As
we continue into the second half of the Converse Century with
our Fall 2008 Footwear Collection, we celebrate the renegades
of sound, the league-changers and those with flawless style. They
are the ones who have created the last 100 years of Converse history
and will be the ones to define the next 100 years," said Scott
Patt, Converse Global Footwear Creative Director.
Converse
Fall 2008 Collection
Chuck Taylor All Star Light
A new, clean, simple take on the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe, the
Chuck Taylor All Star Light shoes feature a chic, slimmer construction
with minimal detailing and additional arch support. Designed specifically
for women, the new model retains key details that have made the
original shoe legendary, including the Converse All Star patch,
familiar toe-cap and tread pattern. Available in gold, silver,
pink or black canvas, shoes in this collection retail for MSRP
$62 and will be available nationwide at specialty retailers and
online at www.converse.com beginning in July.
Chuck Taylor All Star Low Profile
A spare, clean take on the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe this low profile
shoe features black deconstructed premium leather uppers and slim,
white rubber soles. D-ring closures give them ease, simplicity
and a decidedly modern look. Also inspired by secret geometry,
a vibrant prism print lining gives these shoes an unexpected color
pop and relaxed look and feel. Available in black/white/multi,
shoes in this collection retail for MSRP $94 and will be available
nationwide at specialty retailers and online at www.converse.com beginning in July.
Chuck Taylor All Star Electronic Music
These futuristic, over-the-rainbow shoes are inspired by music and
science and feature ultra-modern, vibrant colors and patterns,
coupled with premium construction and materials. Available in Chuck
Taylor All Star shoes in high top and oxford versions, the collection
features a satin upper in a gradient rainbow of colors, subtly
and stylishly evoking spacey, ambient, other worldly music. Available
in multi/silver, rainbow, orange/red and blue/green, shoes in this
collection retail for MSRP $84 and will be available nationwide
at specialty retailers and online at www.converse.com beginning
in June.
Jack Purcell Specialty and Jack Purcell V-4
The Jack Purcell Specialty shoes feature the traditional shoe silhouette
and a version in monochrome black features subtle blue piping along
its saddle shoe detail while a brown version features deep lavender
piping. The result is a collection of richly crafted shoes that
exude the understated sports lifestyle for which the Jack Purcell
shoe has become known. The Jack Purcell V-4 shoe has a fourth strap
making this all leather high-top perfect for night time flings.
Jack Purcell Specialty shoes are available in black/blue and brown/deep
lavender and retails for MSRP $85. Jack Purcell V-4 shoes are available
in grey/green and retail for MSRP $95. Both styles will be available
nationwide at specialty retailers and online at www.converse.com beginning in June.
Extensions
Drawing on Converse’s rich basketball history and modern styling,
Converse’s Fall 2008 Extensions collection includes some of
the best colors and materials yet with updated centennial re-issues
of the Poorman Pro Leather shoes and debut of its Pro Team and Pro
Weapon® shoe styles. These hybrids of the Pro Leather 1976,
Weapon and the Pro Team shoes feature multi-colored canvas uppers
in striking colors that really pop. Leather versions in more subtle
colors feature strong color accents and ultra clean styling. Highlights
from this collection include a Poorman Pro Team shoe that features
a mostly monochrome black upper with a grey star chevron and hiking
boot laces. A white sole rounds it out making it a super striking
shoe in the collection. The Poorman Weapon shoe also features the
clean styling of the other leather shoes in the collection, but also
exhibits unique perforation detailing that gives it an unmistakable
look. Available in black/lava/gold, blue/white/red, black/milk, grey/black/red/white
and grey/red/black/white, the shoes in this collection retail for
MSRP $50 - $60 and will be available nationwide at specialty retailers
and online at www.converse.com beginning in June.
Odessa and Wave Trainer
The Odessa and Wave Trainer shoes feature a tongue-in-cheek nod to
some of the sport’s worst record times ever with famously
slow running times stitched on the side of the shoes. The Odessa
shoes feature premium leather uppers and unique, original lacing
detail that give these shoes a stand-out, fresh look and feel.
The Wave Trainer shoes also feature rich leathers, but also include
the iconic Converse star chevron logo on the sides. Both styles
feature unique textured mesh materials and bold modern colors.
Adding to the fun and quirky detailing, each shoe has a special
insole graphic of marathon participants reacting to how it feels
to be last place. Available in black/purple, brown/green/yellow,
purple/green/yellow and white/black/orange, shoes in this collection
retail for MSRP $80 - $90 and will be available nationwide at specialty
retailers and online at www.converse.com beginning in June.
Pro Leather 1976
The iconic shoe
that changed the game of basketball continues to evolve with lifestyle
versions of the shoe that include an infusion of soft, supple leathers
and ultra premium detailing. Rich dark colors grace a high and oxford
version with Italian Squamato leather that receives a pop of contrasting
color with its signature Converse star chevron logo detailing. Another
oxford version has a clean simple full-grain leather upper in a sleek
monochrome black and contrasting off white sole. Available in dark
sage/enamel blue, dark purple/ink blue, black, the shoes in this
collection retail for MSRP $85 - $90 and will be available nationwide
at specialty retailers and online at www.converse.com beginning in
August.
Grateful Dead
From the beginning in 1965, the Grateful Dead set its own standards
and redefined music and the live concert experience. The band’s
apparent disdain for the status quo enabled them to become music’s
most enduring success story, and what began as a freewheeling group
of musicians transformed into one of the most powerful icons in
American pop culture. Serving as a canvas, the collection pays
homage to the Grateful Dead legacy through simple execution with
detailing left to the powerful imagery and artwork for which has
become forever associated with the Grateful Dead. Featuring the
two artists who were at the forefront of San Francisco’s
renaissance of graphic poster art in the 1960s and 1970s, Alton
Kelley’s and Stanley Mouse’s artwork is featured prominently;
Skull & Roses, Europe ’72 album artwork and Ice Cream
Boy are three of the icon pieces featured. The famous dancing bears
and Grateful Dead logo round out this amazing collection that includes
Chuck Taylor® All Star® high top and oxford shoes. Available
in black/blue/grenadine, black/bears, white/blue/grenadine leather,
white/bears, white/grenadine/gold and white/multiple, shoes in
this collection retail for MSRP $40 - $70 and will be available
nationwide at specialty retailers and online at www.converse.com beginning in June.
Converse by John Varvatos
Converse by John Varvatos Bosey Boot
For Fall 2008, John Varvatos gives a nod to Converse’s centennial
by drawing inspiration from a boot from the Converse archives. With
the introduction of the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Bosey Boot,
Converse by John Varvatos offers an extra, extra high interpretation
of a boot that dates back to Converse’s heritage as a military
footwear contractor for the US government in WWII. A rugged, gusseted
upper with beautifully supple, oiled leather and a military, painted
rubber canvas version present style in a refined, stylish manner.
Season ready, a special Thinsulate™ lining and heavy-duty
rubber heel and toe cap give the shoes in this collection function
to go along with their unmistakable luxurious look and feel. The
Chuck Taylor All Star Bosey Boots are available in extra, extra high;
extra high and in an oxford version. A Chuck Taylor All Star Bosey
Camp Welley gives Chelsea boot ease and appeal to the collection.
Available in black/neutral grey, military olive/black, black mono,
chocolate/black, black/grey and olive/black, shoes in this collection
retail for MSRP $175 - $295 and will be available nationwide at specialty
retailers and online at www.converse.com beginning in August.
Chuck Taylor All Star Low Profile Slip
New for fall, and offering a fresh approach to Converse’s most
classic silhouette, the Chuck Taylor All Star Low Profile shoe features
a casual, slimmed down sole, hand-stitched detailing and an advanced
toe spring. Converse by John Varvatos detailing such as a haberdasher
lining and premium construction give these shoes a handcrafted feel.
Available in high-top and slip versions, the shoes are placed through
a full-shoe garment dye process lending an unpolished yet stylish
look to the canvas and rubber outsole. Available in a parchment/milk
version and either black, tarp green, ferrous red or drill oil garment
dye versions, shoes in this collection retail for MSRP $95 - $100
and will be available nationwide at specialty retailers, department
stores and online at www.converse.com beginning in August.
Chuck Taylor All Star Multi-Eyelets
Converse by John Varvatos expands its Chuck Taylor All Star Eyelets
shoe collection by offering a range of new washes and patterns.
Canvas uppers and rubber soles receive a unique garment dye treatment
that gives the shoe an all-over distressed look. Flexibility of
the elastic laces allow the shoe to be slipped on with ease and
its haberdasher lining gives it instant comfort and distinction.
Available in either black/grey striped, black or burnished taupe
garment dye, shoes in this collection retail for MSRP $95 - $100
and will be available nationwide at specialty retailers, department
stores and online at www.converse.com beginning in August.
Chuck Taylor All Star Painted Rubber
For Fall 2008, Converse by John Varvatos offers a new twist to the
popular painted canvas shoes to include a painted rubber Chuck
Taylor All Star shoe. Leather laces and a haberdasher linings give
these shoes distinction and style that make each shoe feel specially
created for the wearer. Available in black/grey stripe, white/black
and black paint, shoes in this collection retail for MSRP $125
and will be available nationwide at specialty retailers, department
stores and online at www.converse.com beginning in August.
Jack Purcell Vintage
A sophisticated hound’s-tooth pattern and impeccable detailing
characterize these two new stand-out Jack Purcell Vintage shoes for
men and women. Each shoe has ultra-soft fabric that resembles that
of fine suiting and is accented with the iconic Jack Purcell rubber
outsole, toe-smile and Jack Purcell signature on the tongue. Converse
by John Varvatos detailing such as haberdasher linings and a clear
sole round out these stellar oxfords. Available in black houndstooth/black
and brown houndstooth/chocolate, shoes in this collection retail
for MSRP $110 and will be available nationwide at specialty retailers,
department stores and online at www.converse.com beginning in August.
About Converse
Converse Inc., based in N. Andover, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Nike, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand
has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports
Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage
of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe,
the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse
offers a diverse portfolio including premium lifestyle men's and
women's footwear and apparel. Converse product is sold globally
by retailers in over 160 countries and through 25 company-owned
retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit Converse
on the web at www.converse.com.
# # #
Press Contacts:
Jason Thome
Converse
(646) 563-7488
jason.thome@converse.com
Keith Gulla
Converse
(646) 563-7318
keith.gulla@converse.com |
