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Converse's Iconic Chuck Taylor Shoe Gets An Update

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II high-tops (Courtesy Converse)
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star II high-tops (Courtesy Converse)

After nearly 100 years of selling its signature kicks, Boston-based shoe company Converse Inc. has taken its most significant step in modernizing its much-cherished Chuck Taylor All Stars.

Calling the shoe "ground-breaking," Converse said in a statement Thursday that the Chuck Taylor All Star II — which is set to hit stores Tuesday — is an update on its classic that is "overflowing with innovative Nike Lunarlon technology to support the always-on creative lifestyle."

Converse — now a subsidiary of Nike — was established in 1908. It has been selling the Chuck Taylor All Star since 1917, the statement said.

When the shoe goes on sale Tuesday, it will be offered in black, red, white and blue. Its suggested retail price is $70, or $75 for the high-top version.

Converse says the Nike sockliner makes the shoe more comfortable, with more cushioning and greater arch support, the statement said, adding that its new perforated micro suede liner offers "breathability" during "extended periods of wear" (a design that will likely help those who essentially live in their Converse shoes). The company also boasts in the statement that the All Star II has a padded collar and non-slip tongue.

The All Star is "one of the most legendary and iconic sneakers of all time,” Jim Calhoun, Converse president and CEO, said in the statement. “The launch of Chuck II is a ground-breaking moment for Converse as we continue to move the brand forward through creativity and innovation, ushering in not just a new sneaker, but a completely new way of thinking."

But, all that new technology doesn't mean these Chucks look completely different from the ones you might own now (and yours perhaps look as dirty as the original All Star in this GIF — if you're doing it right).

A bit worn original Converse All Star ox (ccdoh1/flickr) and a black Converse All Star Chuck II (Courtesy Converse)
A bit worn original Converse All Star ox (ccdoh1/flickr). Then, a black All Star Chuck II (Courtesy Converse)

Converse Vice President Richard Copcutt said in the statement that "[t]he Chuck II ... stay[s] true to the DNA of the original."

The shoe company recently opened its new headquarters on Boston’s Lovejoy Wharf.

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Lisa Creamer Managing Editor, Digital News
Lisa Creamer is WBUR's managing editor for digital news.

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