Giant steps are what you take

MANILA, Philippines - Enter this horde of new Converse models that fall under three categories. For those about to rock in Chucks or Cons or even Jack Purcells — as Brian Johnson of AC/DC bellows — we salute you. The brand’s Eli Bonsol gives us the lowdown.

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star

The season’s key theme, according to Bonsol is “color clash.” 

She explains, “While there will always be a place for our beloved white or black Chucks, our design team has unleashed the color spectrum onto our collection. Whether it’s through the poppy hues of our new Platform Plus collection, through the classic color-ways of the Chuck ’70, or through the swirly world of Tie-Dye, color is the leading role of our All Star cast this season.” 

Color, after all, is in the DNA of the Chuck Taylor All Star, the ultimate canvas for self-expression. “We invite our customers to express themselves through color — in all its paint-splattery glory. Sneakers boast colors that clash against a gray world. Shoes blend in; sneakers clash.”

The Chuck ’70 returns with the first two prints released on Chucks: the camouflage and the glow-in-the-dark zebra prints. It is also available in six core colors as well as high-top and low-top styles, and features a reinforced double-layered canvas upper and comfort sock liner.

An all-new silhouette, the Chuck Platform Plus takes the iconic sneaker to new heights adding a feminine touch to a sporty silhouette (with over two inches of a concealed wedge).

New marbleized tie-dyes in bright colors are seen throughout the Chuck Tie-Dye collection for a Grateful-Dead-meets-Devendra-Banhart look.

The Chuck Tri-Panel takes color-blocking to a new level with a heavier ballistic canvas and leather toecap. 

Converse Cons

At the Bangkok launch, Bonsol points out that the spirit of Converse Cons is interpreted in stark black-and-white photographs of brand ambassadors shot by street culture veteran and photographer Ari Marcopoulos. Marcopoulos, who began his career assisting Andy Warhol, transplants himself into the intimate lives of people living on the edge. Artists, snowboarders, musicians and skateboarders have been both muses and commercial subject matter throughout his quarter century career as a photographer.

Bonsol explains, “You can see the powerful and creative spirit of our ambassadors come to life. They are not afraid to push the very core of creativity through everything they do, whether its Nick Trapasso doing his latest skate trick, or the Flatbush Zombies pushing out a new music track.”

The Cons Star Player embraces classic iterations, giving a nod to the 1977 All Star II sneakers and unveiling a new look after its original debut in 2004. The sneaker features extra cushioning for optimum support and comfort. This timeless low-top sneaker gets a seasonal update with a range of refreshing tones.

The Cons Star Player Plus channels the resurgence of the ’90s heritage trend and takes cues from the Converse Weapon and Aerojam styles with the Y Bar and molded oversize tongue details. While the Cons Aerojam, a re-mastered silhouette, celebrates the ’90s sneaker culture and returns with three fresh color updates appropriate for the season. The sneaker features an oversize tongue, as well as removable and reversible lace shroud details.

The Cons Star Player Skate features a new twist by introducing the iconic silhouette to the skateboarding collection. It comes equipped with a molded Lunarlon sock liner, Cons traction rubber, perforated memory foam and a gusseted tongue.

The Cons Trapasso Pro II — inspired by Converse skateboarding ambassador Nick Trapasso — features tie-dye suede details and updated seasonal colors. It features a molded Lunarlon sock liner, Cons traction rubber and perforated memory foam padding for optimal cushioning.

Converse Jack Purcell

Bonsol explains, “As you can see, the Jack Purcell looks very different from our other product segments. This is for those who are fueled by a rampant, unstoppable creative spirit — the sneakers in a brown shoe world. The creative chaos of the Jack Purcell universe is all about ideas. About what’s possible when you obsess over the details, when you tap into your internal inventor, your DIY spirit, and see what happens.” 

This season debuts new essential Jack Purcell footwear styles. Inspired by different elements of summer accessories, such as cool tortoise shell sunglasses and elegant pocket squares.

The Tortoise Leather Jack comes in nubuck leather with tortoise shell detailing.  Top tortoise shell eyelets and flecked laces on premium full-grain nubuck leather are incorporated with the Jack gum smile and heel plate, all designed with a high-comfort cork foot bed.

The Jack Purcell Tortoise Twill comes in soft twill with full tortoise shell eyelets and leather contrast bindings in two featured silhouettes and a classic finish. The Jack Purcell Post Applied is a crafted sneaker with a full leather midsole, the first of its kind for Jack Purcell. And the Pocket Square Jack brings the versatility of a chic summer pocket square into the form of a sneaker with a clean graphic on soft twill.

Individuals — and we disagree with Kurt Cobain — do have to breed.