Converse hopes the Chuck Taylor II is a game changer

Throughout the presentation, 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 “f*** up the Chuck”, or mess with the sneakers already-winning formula. “And they wear their Chucks hard, so they started asking if maybe there was a way to make an All Star that was a little easier on their feet”. He called the new shoe “the worst sequel since Back to the Future II.” I countered by saying that throwing some white laces in the black shoe gets you 90 percent of the way to the classic look. But these are just a few of the improvements made to the most iconic shoe in Converse’s history.

“It’s a really modern-day version of a Chuck Taylor”, said Geoff Cottrill, VP-general manager of brand and segment at Converse. More support, premium canvas, same look.

Click through the slideshow below to explore all the new Chuck II styles.

With the exception of denim or say, the cotton t-shirt, the Converse Chuck Taylor is perhaps the most inveterate staple of American fashion. (Pro tip: You can primarily tell a vintage Chuck by the position of the ventilation holes, which have crept higher up away from the sole over the decades.).

The release adds that the shoe also features a padded collar, a non-slip gusseted tongue, and a perforated microsuede liner.

Converse, which debuted the Chuck Taylors in 1917, sells more than 100 million pairs of sneaker each year, and Copcutt attributes the company’s success and longevity to listening to their consumers. The eyelets in the Chuck II are molded, creating a feeling of greater depth; same thing with the Converse heel patch, which now has three-dimensional letters, instead of just a painted-on logo. Thanks to these updates, Chuck Taylor II is now 20% lighter than its predecessor.

“But, the insights they gave us were incredible”.

Converse updates the Chucks after 98 years.