They can be heard squeaking from cafeteria floors to the gym; they come in every color imaginable; they come in high and low. Some call them Chucks, some call them kicks, but they are most commonly known as Converse.
So where did the phenomenon start? The shoe has actually been around for more than 100 years. In 1908 Marquis Mills Converse started a company based in rubber that soled tires as well as shoes. The shoes ended up gaining recognition, popular especially with basketball players. Charles Hollis “Chuck” Taylor, basketball player and shoe enthusiast, joined forces with Mr. Converse to help spread the word about the new shoe brand. New styles popped up as fads came and went. The fifties brought the classic “High-Top” style, the sixties brought the first colorful Converse shoe, and the seventies brought the classic star emblem seen on the ankles of the shoes. Nowadays, people can design their own Converse Sneaker, with customized style, color, and pattern.
Take a look in the hallways of Neuqua- Converse are everywhere. The limitless designs express countless personalities. One look proves it- Neuqua kids have some sweet kicks.
Gwen Kestler, Editor-in-Chief
