Converse is one of the most popular shoe brands in the world today. With a history of over 100 years, this company has grown from a tiny startup to a global brand that is recognized as a household name.
Their shoes are iconic and not overly expensive to purchase, and we have seen them lead the way in fashion for the best part of the last 50 years.
But when were the first converse shoes made? How did this small company grow to become the giant brand we know today? If you’re considering these questions, then you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’re going to give you a complete history of Converse, including everything you’ll want to know about how and when their first pair of shoes were made.
We’ve also included a short FAQ section to help answer any related questions you may have.
So let’s turn back the clock and take a look at Converses in the past!
The Beginnings Of Converse
Converse began its life as the ‘Converse Rubber Shoe Company.’ They were founded by Marquis Mills in Massachusetts, USA, and were created as a company that specialized in creating a new rubber form of footwear called ‘galoshes.’
This was how the company started. From the years of 1908 to 1910 they continued to make this simple, rubber footwear. It wasn’t until 1910 that they began to branch out and create something unique.
With their knowledge of creating rubber footwear, Converse then designed a pair of sneakers for the first time. If there is a moment we can use as the first time that Converse created a pair of its signature shoes, it is here!
Their original high tops were produced with a rubber bottom and a lighter, fabric top.
The first iteration of this now iconic design was not popular, to begin with. In 1910 the general public valued sturdier, more practical shoes that would last a long time before wearing out.
However, Converse continued to make these shoes (notably with a brown coloring) and the design would be the foundation for a lot of their later products.
The Middle Years Of Converse
By the year 1920, Converse had shifted its focus to designing and producing sports shoes. This is another moment we can consider a vital moment for the company, where they designed their iconic All-Star Basketball Shoes.
Many parts of this design are still seen in modern iterations of their high-top shoes.
These shoes were much better received, and Converse began to make its mark as a manufacturer of baseball shoes. After basketball player Charles ‘Chuck’ Taylor got involved with the company, the two worked together to achieve success.
This takes us to the 1930s when the iconic Converse ‘All Star’ logo was invented with red and blue coloring. This is the same logo that exists today and you’ve no doubt seen it in your own life!
Converse All Stars
From here, the Iconic Converse All Stars were invented and began to gain a lot of traction in the united states.
The shoes were promoted across the company, and this hard work paid off with the American Olympic Basketball Team wearing Converse All-Stars at important games. This then also led to fans of basketball wearing All Stars and the shoes becoming more popular worldwide.
Later Converse History
After the Second World War, the American economy boomed and this was one of the reasons why Converse became even more established as a brand.
By 1960 they began to enter the mainstream market. It was now commonly understood that Converse All Stars were comfy shoes and they began to be integrated into modern fashion.
All Stars were worn by some of the most iconic celebrities of the 1960s, for example, Elvis Presley and legendary actor James Dean.
In some ways, Converse shoes reflected a change in time, where young men stopped dressing so smart and began to dress in a more expressive, comfortable nature.
Fashion trends often start from celebrity culture, and we can see Converse skyrocket in the mainstream after the 1960s.
By the 1980s, they were a huge brand with many different versions, including low-top sneakers that differed from the now old shape of All Star high tops.
Conclusion
Today, Converse is one of the most beloved shoe brands in the world. This is especially impressive considering the general shape and design of their original high top shoes have not changed all that much.
Although we can see a lot of variations and small tweaks, Converse shoes have been worn for generations, staying in fashion throughout all of that time.
We hope that this article has given you some insight into when the first converse shoes were made.
Although there’s no exact date we can point to, there are a few occasions when they made big leaps in the design of their shoes, creating the classics we know and love today.
If you still have some questions about Converse shoes, keep reading for our FAQ section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Converse Shoes So Popular?
Converse shoes have endured through the decades for a few main reasons. We’re going to highlight them for you below.
1. Comfortability: Converse shoes are comfortable and supportive. The thick rubber soles and fabric tops allow you to get a snug fit without your feet being completely crushed.
They are the type of shoes that you can wear all day without much issue.
2. Fashion: It’s clear that Converse shoes just look great! Although they were seen as sportswear for much of the early 20th century, they grew to become a classic look that is compatible with many different styles. 3. Durability: Converse was a company founded to create strong, long-lasting shoes. Although design specifics have changed throughout the years, the thick rubber sole of Converse shoes remains durable.
Have you ever thought that you were born in the wrong generation? That you would have suited the 80s better? The 70s, 50s, or even the 30s?
Then welcome to my website, where you’ll fit right in. Hi, my name is Willa Price and I am a self-confessed fashion lover.
I specialize in vintage fashion at a designer label, and it is my dream job. I spend my days reinventing old pieces and reworking them into modern fashion trends.
Please, enjoy my website as you take a step back in time to relive the fashion evolution that we are still moving through now.
