In 1908 Marquis Mills Converse opened the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in Malden, Massachusetts. The company was a rubber shoe manufacturer, manufacturing 4,000 winterized rubber-soled shoes each day.
In 1915 the company began manufacturing athletic shoes for tennis.
In 1917 the Converse All-Star Basketball shoe was introduced.
In 1921 a basketball player, Charles H. “Chuck” Taylor walked into Converse and was quickly given a job working as a salesman and ambassador.
In 1932 Chuck Taylor’s signature was added to the All Stars. He worked at Converse until shortly before his death in 1969.
The company lost much of its near-monopoly in the 1970’s with new competition from Adidas, Puma, Nike, and later, Reebok.
This began a slow decline for the brand which culminated in filing for bankruptcy in 2001.
Converse was bought by Footwear Acquisition in 2001.
Nike purchased the company in 2003 for $309 million.
ConverseIn 1908 Marquis Mills Converse opened the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in Malden, Massachusetts. The company was a rubber shoe manufacturer, manufacturing 4,000 winterized rubber-soled shoes each day.
In 1915 the company began manufacturing athletic shoes for tennis.
In 1917 the Converse All-Star Basketball shoe was introduced.
History
In 1921 a basketball player, Charles H. “Chuck” Taylor walked into Converse and was quickly given a job working as a salesman and ambassador.
In 1932 Chuck Taylor’s signature was added to the All Stars. He worked at Converse until shortly before his death in 1969.
The company lost much of its near-monopoly in the 1970’s with new competition from Adidas, Puma, Nike, and later, Reebok.
This began a slow decline for the brand which culminated in filing for bankruptcy in 2001.
Converse was bought by Footwear Acquisition in 2001.
Nike purchased the company in 2003 for $309 million.