Converse Redesigned The Chuck Taylor For The First Time In A Century

Today, not far from their recently relocated Boston World Headquarters, Converse launched The Chuck Taylor All-Star II. The first major renovation in its 98-year history, the Chuck II finds the iconic sneaker refitted with a perforated micro-suede liner and a foam padded collar. Most notably, it's lined in Nike’s patented Lunarlon technology. The result is a sneaker that looks as simple and clean as the original, but is cozy enough to cut down on the dreaded break-in period of a brand new pair of Chucks.

At the official press launch, Converse executives delivered speeches about the meticulous design and innovation specifics, yet the overall sentiment remained the same throughout: a loving reverence for the iconic sneaker and an underlying desire to not “fuck up the Chuck,” or mess with the sneakers already-winning formula.

Richard Copcutt, Vice President/General Manager of Converse All Star, shared that the creation of the Chuck II was instigated by the concerns and desires of the fans of this ubiquitous sneaker. “The consumer has asked us to take the classic and give them more,” said Copcutt. “It’s about the timing; it’s not a hundred years thing, or an anniversary. The time was right because the consumer said the time was right.”

The Chuck II, priced at $70, launches in stores and online on Tuesday, July 28th. Take a closer look at the brand new sneaker, below.