HISTORY OF CONVERSE BY: IVY K. & AMANDA H.

ORIGIN

Converse Rubber Shoe Company is one of America’s most iconic footwear companies.

Converse "All Star" Logo

This American shoe company started in 1908 with a production output of mainly lifestyle footwear. Converse was founded by Marquis Mills Converse in Malden, Massachusetts. In 1917, the company designed the All Star. The shoe was composed of a rubber sole and canvas upper and was designed to be an elite shoe for the professional basketball league. The headquarters have remained close by the hearth and are now are located in Boston, Massachusetts. This well known brand has transcended generations while maintaining its popularity, surprisingly without any major changes.

Original Converse Model
Early Converse Factory

EARLY CONVERSE MANUFACTURING

DIFFUSION

Converse shoes were once used specifically for basketball. Many teams in the early to mid 1900s wore “Chuck Taylor’s” which were shoes produced by Converse. By the 70s, Converse had become casual, everyday shoes.

Converse "Chuck Taylor" Logo

These sneakers were spread throughout the United States by hierarchical diffusion. Many well known basketball players wore Converse shoes, therefore causing converse to become a popular trend that others wanted to take part in. It diffused from node to node. As the shoes became more popular, the prices began to rise. Due to this diffusion from top to bottom, knockoffs became an affordable option. As a result, the popularity increased even more because everyone could follow this trend.

Hierarchical diffusion in the United States by popular basketball players.

DISTRIBUTION

Converse is a brand largely present in urban areas. It became one of Boston’s largest department stores. The largest Converse store in the United States is located in SoHo New York, a largely populated area.

Top Converse Store Locations

As the distribution of stores in the U.S. increased, they took their company world wide through globalization. By 1983, Converse shoes were available on the international market. The first internationally spread country was Japan in 1984. The company’s large growth was due to the distribution of shoes in North American, European, and Asian markets. Now they are one of the most well known shoe brands, distributed to over 90 countries worldwide.

Modern Converse Store in Detroit, Michigan.
Converse in different colors sold internationally.

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