An athletic shoe brand established in 1908 by Marquis M. Converse. Converse is most famous for its All-Star high-top basketball sneaker, created in 1918 in collaboration with a high school basketball player named Chuck Taylor, who later turned pro. In addition to the high-top version known as "chucks," the low-cut version, the "oxford," continues to be one of the most popular sneakers in the world. Converse has been and continues to play a significant role in the athletic footwear market into the twenty-first century. The famous PF Flyers were made by the Hood Company in 1962. Goodrich acquired the rights to the Flyers and Converse purchased the Goodrich athletic shoe brand in 1971. When Converse was accused of monopolizing the sneaker market, it sold off the PF Flyer brand. In 2006, John Varvatos designed the Converse laceless sneaker.
Historical Dictionary of the Fashion Industry. Francesca Sterlacci and Joanne Arbuckle.