Editing Converse (brand) (section)

==History==

===1908–1940: Early years===
Forty-seven-year-old Marquis Mills Converse, a manager at a footwear manufacturing firm, opened the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in February 1908, in [[Malden, Massachusetts]].<ref name="Bertho-2008">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VaxzCgAAQBAJ&q=converse+history+timeline&pg=RA2-PA231|title=The Impact of Globalization on the United States [3 volumes]|last1=Bertho|first1=Michelle|last2=Crawford|first2=Beverly|last3=Fogarty|first3=Edward A.|date=September 30, 2008|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313083198|language=en}}</ref> The company was a rubber shoe manufacturer, and its early inventory included winterized rubber-soled footwear, [[galoshes]], tennis shoes, and some non-footwear items like automobile tires. In the summer of 1916, the Converse [[basketball]] line was established; by 1917 the [[Chuck Taylor All-Stars|Converse All-Star]] basketball shoe was introduced and quickly became successful during [[World War I]] and the [[Spanish flu]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Bertho-2008"/><ref name="Foreman">{{Cite web |last=Foreman |first=Katya |title=Converse shoes: In the all star game |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20140606-art-on-canvas-converse-shoes |access-date=2022-08-19 |website=[[BBC]]}}</ref>

In 1922, basketball player [[Chuck Taylor (salesman)|Charles H. "Chuck" Taylor]] walked into Converse complaining of sore feet, and Converse gave him a job as a salesman and ambassador. He promoted the shoes around the U.S., and in 1932 Taylor's signature was added to the All-Star patch on the high-topped sneakers. He continued this work until shortly before his death in 1969.<ref name=Dalesio /> Sales for the All-Star soared until 1929 when the company fell into bankruptcy. In 1939, Converse was sold to the Stone Family, who owned Converse until 1972 when the [[AlliedSignal|Eltra Corporation]] proposed an acquisition.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=How Converse Became Fashion's Favorite Sneaker |url=https://www.instyle.com/history-of-converse-7098393 |access-date=2023-04-25 |website=[[InStyle]]}}</ref>

=== 1941–2001: War, rise, and bankruptcy ===
When the U.S. entered [[World War II]] in 1941, Converse shifted production to manufacturing rubberized footwear, outerwear, and protective suits for the military. After the war's end, the company resumed production of athletic footwear and chiefly made a high top shoe, in either black or white.<ref name=":0" /> In the 1950s and 1960s, Converse promoted an American image with its Converse Basketball Yearbook. Artist [[Charles Kerins]] created cover art that celebrated Converse's role in the lives of high school and college athletes.<ref name="AskART">{{Cite web |title=Charles Kerins - Biography |url=https://www.askart.com/artist/Charles_Kerins/105517/Charles_Kerins.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030123148/http://www.askart.com/artist_bio/Charles_Kerins/105517/Charles_Kerins.aspx |archive-date=2015-10-30 |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=AskART}}</ref> In 1957, Converse came out with a low-cut style of All-Stars. By 1966, the shoe was also available in school colors.<ref name=":0" /> 

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Converse customized shoes for the [[New York Renaissance]] (the "Rens"), the first all-[[African-American]] professional basketball team. The shoes were designed to be "non-skid", which gave basketball players better grip.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Converse's Chuck Taylor & Basketball |url=https://www.shoepalace.com/blogs/all/the-history-of-converse-s-chuck-taylor-basketball |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=Shoe Palace |date=August 27, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> An extra strip of rubber was eventually added to protect the shoes from constant pivoting; this was called the "pivot button".<ref name="Mr. Porter">{{Cite web |title=A Brief History Of The Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Sneaker |url=https://www.mrporter.com/en-us/journal/fashion/history-converse-chuck-taylor-all-star-sneaker-icon-1276662 |website=Mr. Porter}}</ref> In [[1961–62 NBA season|1962]], center [[Wilt Chamberlain]] of the [[1961–62 Philadelphia Warriors season|Philadelphia Warriors]] scored 100 points in a [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) game while wearing a pair of All-Stars, taking a 169–147 victory over the [[1961–62 New York Knicks season|New York Knicks]] in [[Hershey, Pennsylvania]], on March 2.<ref name=rewghan>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0BMrAAAAIBAJ&pg=2432%2C576737 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Wilt Breaks NBA Record; Gets 100 Against Knicks |date=March 3, 1962 |page=7}}</ref>

By the early 1970s, Converse had diversified to include manufacturing sporting goods and industrial products. Converse was acquired by the [[AlliedSignal|Eltra Corporation]] in 1972, and bought out one of its biggest competitors at the time, [[PF Flyers]], from [[Goodrich Corporation|B.F. Goodrich]]. However, federal courts ruled the sale a monopoly and the deal was subsequently broken up through anti-trust litigation. Converse only retained the trademark rights to the [[Jack Purcell]] line, which it still produces.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1972-07-04 |title=Converse and Eltra Sued By U.S. on Goodrich Deal |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/07/04/archives/converse-and-eltra-sued-by-us-on-goodrich-deal.html |access-date=2022-11-12 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="IDCH">{{Cite book |author=Grant |first=Tina |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/converse-inc-history/ |title=International Directory of Company Histories |date=February 14, 2000 |publisher=[[St. James Press]] |isbn=978-1-55862-390-3 |volume=31 |location=Detroit, Michigan |ol=8607051M |via=Funding Universe}}</ref> The [[Chevron (insignia)|chevron]]-and-star insignia—a logo that remains on a large portion of Converse footwear—was created by Jim Labadini, an employee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.complex.com/sneakers/2012/12/the-25-best-logos-in-sneaker-history/ |title=The 25 Best Logos in Sneaker History |date=December 6, 2012 |website=Complex |access-date=February 17, 2018 |quote=Jim Labadini helped cook up the Converse 2.0 logo during a time when sneaker brands where getting extremely competitive. The Converse Chevron logo marked the move forward into what would become an exciting time for the brand, thanks to some guys with nicknames like Dr. J, Magic, and Legend.}}</ref> 

Eltra was acquired by [[Allied Corporation]] in 1979.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1982-03-05 |title=Allied Sells Converse Unit |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/03/05/business/allied-sells-converse-unit.html |access-date=2022-11-12 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Allied moved out of the consumer products business in the 1980s, and in October 1986, Converse was acquired by [[Interco (furniture company)|Interco Incorporated]] and [[Corporate spin-off|spun off]] in 1994.<ref name="IDCH" />

Converse lost its athletic shoe monopoly from the 1970s onward, as new competitors, including [[Puma (brand)|Puma]], [[Adidas]], and [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]], grew in popularity. A decade later, as [[Reebok]] introduced new designs and technology to the sports market, Converse was no longer the official shoe of the NBA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-19 |title=Converse Is Getting Back Into the NBA |url=https://www.gq.com/story/converse-basketball-shoes-return-oubre |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=[[GQ]]}}</ref> Although canvas-rubber shoes regained popularity in the 1980s as casual footwear, Converse eventually became too dependent on the "All Stars" basketball brand, whose market collapsed by 1989–1990. By 2000, Converse was slipping repeatedly into receivership as debt piled up yearly.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/gen/news/2000/1017/823135.html |title=Converse Nears Corporate Extinction |last=Rovell |first=Darren |date=October 18, 2000 |website=ESPN |access-date=February 17, 2018 |quote=Industry sources have confirmed that Converse has racked up $180 million in debt, and the announcement of the company's death is merely a formality.}}</ref>

Converse filed for [[bankruptcy]] on January 22, 2001. On March 30, its last manufacturing plants in the U.S. closed down, as production fully moved overseas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://billingsgazette.com/business/converse-closes-chuck-taylor-plant/article_aa78045e-5e0e-5bd4-bf02-ef7033bc27c5.html |title=Converse closes Chuck Taylor plant |publisher=Associated Press |date=March 30, 2001 |website=Billings Gazette |access-date=March 29, 2023 |quote=The Lumberton plant that has churned out 8 million to 10 million pairs of Chuck Taylors a year has sent its 475 employees home, and the factory officially closes Saturday. Plants in Mission, Texas, and Reynosa, Mexico, are also being closed by the 93-year-old company.}}</ref> In April 2001, Footwear Acquisitions, led by Marsden Cason and Bill Simon, purchased the brand from bankruptcy and added industry partners Jack Boys, Jim Stroesser, Lisa Kempa, and David Maddocks to lead the turnaround.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-jul-16-fi-22900-story.html |title=Getting Sneaker Maker Converse Back on Its Feet |last=Pope |first=Justin |date=July 16, 2001 |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=February 17, 2018 |quote=Investors Marsden Cason and William Simon, through their company Footwear Acquisition, saw an opportunity in the Converse name.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gatlin |first=Greg |date=2001-06-12 |title=The New All-Stars: Converse Names New CEO & Management Team |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2001/06/12/Finance/The-New-All-Stars-Converse-Names-New-CEO-Management-Team.aspx |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=[[Boston Herald]] |via=[[Sports Business Journal]]}}</ref> During this period, Converse moved its headquarters from [[North Reading, Massachusetts]], to [[North Andover, Massachusetts]]. The company was located in the town of North Andover for 13 years.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Marchetti|first=Garrin|date=April 10, 2015|title=Converse hangs it up in North Andover|url=https://www.eagletribune.com/business/converse-hangs-it-up-in-north-andover/article_e0be69e8-8570-5957-8cab-a308b2a2ffa4.html|access-date=January 31, 2021|website=Eagle Tribune|language=en}}</ref>

===2002–present: Acquisition by Nike and new headquarters===
In July 2003, [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] paid {{US$|309 million|link=yes}} to acquire Converse.<ref name="nike03">{{Cite news |last=Wayne |first=Leslie |date=2003-07-10 |title=Nike Purchasing Converse, A Legend on the Blacktop |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/10/business/nike-purchasing-converse-a-legend-on-the-blacktop.html |access-date=2022-11-27 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tkacik |first=Maureen |date=9 July 2003 |title=Nike to Buy Converse For About $305 Million |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB105778918424757500 |access-date=2024-02-28 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2013, Converse announced plans for a new headquarters building. It was constructed near [[North Station]] in downtown Boston, on the [[Lovejoy Wharf]], as part of a site overhaul and restoration of public waterfront access.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130108006830/en/Converse-Announces-Global-Headquarters-City-Boston|title=Converse Announces New Global Headquarters in the City of Boston|date=January 8, 2013 |access-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref> The 10-story {{convert|214000|ft2|adj=on}} office building includes a permanent music recording studio, {{convert|5000|ft2|adj=on}} gym with separate yoga studio, and a {{convert|3500|ft2|adj=on}} retail store.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Converse Officially Opens World Headquarters in Boston and Debuts New Flagship Store|url = http://media.converse.com/news/converse-officially-opens-world-headquartesr-in-boston-and-debuts-new-flagship-store#/inline/33242|website = Converse Media|access-date = February 15, 2016|archive-date = June 11, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160611032315/http://media.converse.com/news/converse-officially-opens-world-headquartesr-in-boston-and-debuts-new-flagship-store#/inline/33242|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In May 2023, Converse hired Jared Carver as the new president and CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verry |first=Peter |date=2023-05-30 |title=Nike Exec Moves Continue: Converse Taps Jared Carver as President and CEO |url=https://footwearnews.com/2023/business/executive-moves/converse-jared-carver-president-ceo-1203470675/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Footwear News |language=en-US}}</ref>