From its humble beginnings as a rubber shoe company specializing in galoshes in Massachusetts in the early 1900s, Converse has grown into one of the world’s most iconic sneaker brands with factories around the world.
In a 2017 survey conducted by fashion site Polyvore, the Nike-owned footwear company emerged as the most-searched-for sneakers online in all 50 states in America.
Kaia Gerber teams her black Converse All Star high tops with an orange blazer, jeans, and baseball cap while out in New York City on September 5, 2019 (Credit: WENN / Instar)
Converse is best known for its Chuck Taylor All-Stars silhouette, initially designed as a basketball shoe in 1917.
Also referred to as “Chucks,” “Chuck Taylors,” “Cons,” and All “Stars,” the classic canvas sneaker remains one of the most popular, iconic, and best-selling sneakers of all time.
Millie Bobby Brown wears her white Converse All Star sneakers to the 24th SAG Awards in Los Angeles on January 21, 2018 (Credit: WENN / Adriana M. Barraza)
Chuck Taylor’s versatility resonates with individuals from diverse backgrounds, spanning everyday people to A-list celebrities and global fashion icons.
It pairs with just about everything in your closet, be it with casual or classy outfits.
Katie Holmes goes shopping in Converse All Star sneakers on April 27, 2017 (Credit: WENN / TNYF)
Unfortunately, along with popularity comes imitation and counterfeit goods. And with the high demand and popularity of Converse All Star, it has become a frequent target of counterfeiting.
Where to Buy Authentic Converse Shoes
While some shoes are easily recognizable as fake, some skilled counterfeiters make convincing knockoffs.
To avoid falling prey to counterfeiters, the best way is to shop from authorized and reputable retailers. Aside from the Converse official website, you can also purchase at Zappos, Amazon, Nordstrom, DSW, and Urban Outfitters.
The Chuck Taylor All Star is Converse’s most iconic and timeless silhouette (Credit: Chanonnat Srisura / Shutterstock)
Before throwing your hard-earned money on a new pair of Converse All Star sneakers, know how to spot fake Converse All Star shoes. Below are easy ways to tell if your Chucks are the real deal:
1. Check the retailer
The first thing to avoid getting scammed is to check the store you’re buying from. Converse has added a store locator tool to its official website to allow customers to find authorized retailers nearby.
If you prefer to shop online, you might want to read the feedback and reviews of the online seller first.
Also, examine the photos they use as scammers tend to steal or edit a photo to make their product look authentic. Better yet, buy from trusted and established online retailers like Zappos, Amazon, and Nordstrom.
You can also buy Converse shoes on eBay, but read our eBay shopping guide before purchasing to ensure you’re not buying a fake product.
2. Always compare prices
The original Converse Chuck Taylors are typically sold for $55 for low tops and $60 for high tops. Anything cheaper than that should set off the alarm bell unless it is stated that they are running a promo or the shoes are discounted.
Converse stores and authorized retailers usually offer the best marked-down prices and clearance sales, which can usually go up to 75% off the original price tag. You can also find discounted Converse shoes on sale at Nordstrom Rack.
3. Check the packaging
All fresh, original Converse All Star shoes come in a properly labeled Converse box. It’s a black box with brown stripes around the bottom. Prints of the company’s wordmark logo should be seen on the top, front, and right sides of the lid.
Black Chuck Taylor All Star low-top sneaker with a retail box featuring the Converse logo (Credit: Mas Yudhi / Shutterstock)
The side of the box should also display information about the shoes, including size, style, and color, as well as a barcode and a QR (Quick Response) code. There should also be a print of the All Star shoe sole on the bottom part of the box.
The package also has tissue wrapping and, at times, stuffing paper inside the shoes.
4. Examine the logo patch
High-top Chucks have a round logo patch on the inner ankle of the shoe. If you find a shoe with the logo on the outside, it is clearly a fake. It was placed on the inside as it was initially designed to protect the athlete’s ankle.
Authentic Converse All Star patch with a navy blue star
The logo patch is a white, round screen-printed rubber patch with the label “CONVERSE ALL STAR” in red uppercase letters and “Chuck Taylor” signature in navy blue script with a five-pointed star.
“CONVERSE ALL STAR” in red uppercase letters and “Chuck Taylor” signature in navy blue script with a five-pointed star
Note that this red, white, and blue badge is not used on monochromatic versions of Chucks. Instead, monochrome pairs feature the logo in 3D and the same color as the canvas upper.
Black Chucks with 3D logo patch
On low-top All Star sneakers, the Converse All Star logo patch is placed on the tongue.
It is a thin, rectangular canvas fabric neatly sewn onto the tongue that says “CONVERSE” in white against a red background and “ALL STAR” in navy blue, with the star logo separating the two words.
This particular color combination of the badge is only used on the white and natural ivory color versions of the low-top All Star.
Low top Converse All Star logo patch
The two-tone versions of the All Star sneakers feature the rectangular logo patch in black and white, while the monochromatic pairs have the logo in the same color as the shoes.
Red Low top Converse shoes with All Star logo patch
5. Check the heel
Every Converse Chuck Taylor sneaker has a rubber patch on the heel. This rectangular patch features the same branding as the fabric logo patch on the low-top All Stars.
It is labeled with a small “CONVERSE” lettering on top and “ALL STAR” with a trademark star logo in between on the bottom.
Converse Chuck Taylor sneaker with rubber patch on the heel
The font color also depends on the color of the shoes. The print should be straight, and the patch should be accurately molded to follow the curve of the midsole.
There should also be no excess glue showing along the edges of the rubber patch. Otherwise, they’re likely counterfeit.
Authentic rubber patch on the heel
For monochrome versions, the back logos come in a 3D design.
3D design Converse heel patch
6. Inspect the tongue
Whether low- or high-top, the tongue should have a small patch on the inside.
This patch contains information about where the shoe was manufactured, the model number, shoe size, the material of the shoe, QR code, and unique serial numbers for each shoe.
Also, notice the zigzagged stitching around the border of the tongue. If it’s loosely done or crooked, chances are, they’re fake.
Check that the tongue has a small patch on the inside
7. Check the toe caps and toe guards
Converse shoes’ distinctive white toe caps must be made of solid rubber material. It should also be positioned straight and parallel to the bottom laces.
Fake Chucks usually have bigger toe capsize than genuine All Star shoes. Monochromatic Chuck Taylors, on the other hand, have toe caps that are the same color as the canvas.
The white toe caps are made of solid rubber material
The rubber toe guards must be in solid form. It should have diagonal lines at the top, a crisscrossed diamond pattern at the middle, and a smaller diamond pattern at the bottom.
This should be neatly trimmed and bonded to the shoe, with no excess glue anywhere.
Authentic white Converse toe caps
8. Check the soles
The inner soles of Converse All Star shoes should have the same color as the canvas lining.
The inner soles of white Converse All Star shoes
They should also have the “CONVERSE” wordmark printed in capital letters in navy blue color, except for the black monochrome model that features the insole inscription in white.
The inner soles of black Converse All Star shoes
Converse All Star sneakers boast a unique waffle-patterned sole. It resembles a combination of various patterns, including diamond shapes, diagonal lines, crisscrossed, and horizontal lines.
The unique waffle-patterned sole
Original Converse All Star sneakers also have a tiny part on the outsole that shows the Converse logo. You should see the “CONVERSE ALL STAR” lettering and five-pointed star insignia.
A small hexagonal star should also be in the corner, which is usually missing in counterfeits.
Inspect the outsole that shows the Converse logo
9. Check the stitching and paint
Authentic Converse sneakers all have sturdy stitches on the upper. The stitching usually comes in white, except for the monochrome and ivory versions with tonal stitching.
Converse shoes with sturdy stitches on the upper
The paint on the rubber piping should also be straight and solid. Fake ones are usually faded and uneven.
Straight and solid paint on the rubber piping
10. Check the eyelets
If the eyelets, including the medial eyelets, are polished, they are definitely a knockoff. Authentic Converse All Stars have matte eyelets. They are also neatly aligned on the upper and don’t come off easily.
Converse eyelets should be neatly aligned
Converse: The Iconic Shoe Brand That’s Loved by Celebrities and Athletes
Acquired by Nike in 2003 for $305 million, Converse is now a subsidiary of the American multinational corporation.
Sage Elsesser Converse One Star Pro Launch Party in New York City on February 10, 2017 (Credit: Derrick Salters / WENN)
Converse offers several main product lines, including the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star, known for its classic canvas and leather sneakers.
The Jack Purcell line features sneakers with a distinctive smile design on the toe cap. Converse One Star offers sneakers with a one-star logo, often with a retro-inspired look.
The CONS line is designed for athletes and skateboarders, focusing on durability and performance. Chuck 70 offers a modern take on the classic Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers, often featuring premium materials.
Converse also allows for customizing Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers, and they frequently collaborate with designers and brands to create limited-edition collections, resulting in unique and sought-after designs.
Nike owns Converse after acquiring the company in 2003 for $305 million
When Nike bought Converse, the latter had just over $200 million in annual sales. Since then, sales have ballooned over ten times to $2.35 billion in revenue in 2022.
This growth can be attributed to several factors, including Nike’s global reach, marketing expertise, and supply chain efficiencies.
It’s worth noting that Nike’s overall revenue for 2022 was $49.1 billion, with Converse accounting for approximately 5% of that total.
What does Converse stand for?
The company is named after its founder, Marquis Mills Converse, who created Converse Rubber Shoe Company in February 1908 in Malden, Massachusetts, as a rubber shoe company specializing in galoshes.
Also known as dickersons, gumshoes, rubbers, or overshoes, it is a type of rubber boot that is slipped over shoes to keep them from getting muddy or wet.
Why did Marquis Mills Converse make Converse?
Marquis Mills Converse was an American entrepreneur who founded the Converse Rubber Shoe Company in 1908.
He was inspired to create rubber-soled shoes after he fell down the stairs while wearing slippery shoes. This incident led him to believe that there was a need for footwear with better traction.
Why are Converse shoes called Chucks?
In 1923, a basketball player named Charles H. “Chuck” Taylor walked into Converse’s office in Chicago complaining of sore feet.
He was hired to improve an earlier version of Converse All Stars that was released in 1922 as one of the first shoes specifically designed to be worn when playing basketball.
In recognition of his hard work, Taylor’s signature was added to the All-Star patch on the classic, high-topped sneakers in 1932. Since then, they have become known as Chuck Taylor All Stars.
Charles Hollis “Chuck” Taylor worked as a salesman and ambassador for the brand until his death of a heart attack in Port Charlotte, Florida, on June 23, 1969.
The design of the Chuck Taylor All Star has remained largely unchanged since its introduction in the 1920s.
Converse Q&A
| Why do Converse shoes have two holes? | Their purpose is to provide ventilation to your feet and they also allow you to get creative with lacing. |
|---|---|
| How can I wash my white Converse shoes? | See our guide showing how to wash white sneakers. |
| Where are Converse produced? | Most of Nike’s shoe factories are located in Asia, including Indonesia, China, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Malaysia. |
| What is the difference between Chuck Taylors and Converse? | Converse is the name of the company. Chuck Taylor All-Stars or Converse All Stars is a model of casual shoe manufactured by Converse. |
| Where to buy Converse: | We recommend buying Converse at authoried retailers like the official Converse website, DSW, Zappos, and Nordstrom. |