Converse’s Red-Hot Collaboration Streak Continues
It’s been a pretty good year to be a fan of classic Converse sneakers—and red-hot streetwear and fashion. Since January, the longtime sneaker makers have teamed up with some of the buzziest names in the game: Off-White’s Virgil Abloh, Midnight Studios’ Shane Gonzales, JW Anderson’s Jonathan Anderson—and that’s not even counting the brand’s ongoing partnership with Tyler, the Creator. After a steady stream of great collaborations, you’d think that Converse might ease up and let sneakerheads catch a breath. Think again: Converse is releasing not one but two collaborations this month. The first is with cool-dude workwear brand Carhartt WIP, and the other with Japanese streetwear legend Jun Takahashi’s Undercover label.
If the name Undercover sounds familiar (and you aren’t a fan of in-the-know Japanese streetwear), it’s probably because Takahashi’s brand just released a highly sought-after sneaker with Nike. For the Converse collab, the low-top Chuck 70 has been revamped with an eerily stark approach to material and color. There are four distinct colorways—black, white, bright red, and bold yellow—on vintage canvas, and the words “ORDER” and “DISORDER” are printed on the shoes’s glossy toe box. Each pair also features the type of details that help elevate an everyday sneaker into something that feels a little more covetable: silver hardware, co-branded sock liners, and special tonal laces. All four sneakers instantly look like Takahashi’s handiwork: alluring, chaotic, and meticulously refined.
On the other hand, the collaboration with Carhartt WIP (which is available now) is much simpler and to the point. The youthful sub-label of Carhartt has always kept things timeless and rugged without feeling stale, and that same vibe can be found in this new collaborative One Star sneaker. It is made of durable cordura fabric and features a logo patch made from coated tarp-like material and sturdy D-ring hardware at the heel. There is nothing too over the top here—just the right amount of functional details to make it feel stylish and utilitarian. Plus, the shoe comes in some tried-and-true Carhartt colors like black, olive, and white.
Whether you want a sneaker that will match a closet full of dystopian streetwear or styled-up workwear, Converse has got you covered. Classic silhouettes like the Chuck 70 and One Star will never go out of style, but the bonus of on-trend details make both sneakers the type of kicks you’ll want to wear the second you get ‘em.
Converse x Undercover is available September 25 via Converse and select retailers.
