Written by Sreya Sanyal

You can’t deny having worn Converse shoes at some point in your life: perhaps you were far too deep into the bottomless abyss of a Goth phase and practically inhaled black attire with matching black Converse shoes to go along.

Or your hatred for heels was so intense that you swore by a pair of Converse shoes with swanky looking shoelaces every time you went dancing. Either way, you cannot deny being fascinated with the iconic high tops.

Known by several names “Chuck Taylors”, “Chucks, “Converse”, the Converse shoe has undergone several subtle changes over the years. Constructed out of breathable cotton canvas material, the Converse All-Star shoe was created almost 100 years ago in 1917. However, the All-Star name was not used until 1920-at its time of introduction, the shoe went by the name of Non-Skid.

Initially, the Converse company specialized in making rubber shoes, created especially for the purpose of withstanding cold winters. The Converse shoe of today did not materialize until 1992, when basketball player Charles Taylor (fondly christened Chuck) appeared in the Converse store on a mission to find quality shoes that did not make his feet sore. And hey presto, the modern Converse shoe we all know and love, was born. Charles Taylor took to vigorously promoting the All-Star shoe across America and was so successful in his endeavours that his signature was immortalized on the shoe in the form of an ankle patch bearing his signature.

If you own a pair of white Converse All-Stars, you would have noticed the red and blue pinstripes across the body of the shoe. Fun fact: the pinstripes have been there since 1936, when Converse provided the entire US basketball team with white All-Stars for the 1936 Olympics. This design has remained unchanged since 1936.

During the Fabulous Fifties and Swingin’ Sixties, Converse shoes were all the rage across American high schools and colleges. Black and white All-Stars were introduced in 1957, and were donned by a diverse range of Converseheads. A pair of solidly built Chucks was every college athlete’s go-to sports shoe during the 70s. In order to compete with the swanky leather creations of Puma and Adidas, Converse launched variations of the All-Stars in the same material. The colour palette of the shoes was expanded to include solid new shades. It was during the 70s that the Converse All-Stars came to be associated with elements of punk and pop culture.

The sneaker fever had descended upon lovers of flat-soled shoes and the All-Star was undergoing an identity shift, away from its association with solely sports. Erstwhile Sex Pistols frontman Sid Vicious was a fan of the Converse All-Star, donning the shoe in some of his performances. The Ramones, iconic American punk musicians also developed a fondness for the shoe, further cementing the association of punk and Converse All-Star. Converse themselves began to release versions of the shoes emblazoned with graffiti and Batman logos. Come 1990, Converse was all about grunge music and skateboarders. (Kurt Cobain was an All-Star aficionado.)

Converse shoes remain relevant today for a variety of reasons: their inexorable connection to punk and grunge culture, unusual prints pertaining to elements of pop culture, or just sheer devotion. Unisex, comfortable and versatile, a pair of classic Converse high-tops is a valuable investment and addition to a closet.

If you are a fellow Conversehead, what is your favourite Converse shoe?