Converse is an American footwear company specializing in the design, distribution and licensing of sneakers, skates, fashion brand footwear, apparel and accessories. It was founded in 1908 and has been a subsidiary of Nike, Inc. since 2003.

During the Second World War, converse shifted production to manufacturing military shoes. It is one of the few manufacturers of sneakers that has dominated the U.S. Court shoe market for more than half a century. Since the 1970s, the company has lost its dominant position as competitors show their style.

Today, the company's product portfolio includes products registered under the converse, cons, Chuck Taylor All Star, Jack Purcell, one star and star chevron trademarks. [3] Converse also frequently works with other brands, such as John Varvatos, to develop special editions. Converse shoes are characterized by many features, including the company's star badge, all star rubber sole, smooth round head and surround laces.

As of 2019, converse sells its products through 109 U.S. owned retail stores and 63 stores in the international market. Nike has 76700 employees worldwide, including converse.

Marquis Mills Converse, 47, a former manager of a footwear manufacturing company, opened converse rubber shoes in Marden, Massachusetts, in February 1908. The company is a rubber shoe manufacturer, providing cold proof rubber soled shoes for men, women and children. By 1910, converse was making sneakers every day, but it wasn't until 1915 that the company began to make sneakers.

The company's catalyst comes from converse all star basketball shoes launched in 1917. Then in 1923, a basketball player named Charles h. "Chuck" Taylor walked into converse and complained about his sore feet. Converse gave him a job: as a salesman and ambassador, he promoted the shoes across the United States. In 1932, Taylor's signature was added to the All-Star lineup of classic high top sneakers. He worked on it until shortly before his death in 1969. Converse also customized shoes for the Renaissance in New York ("Rens"), the first professional basketball team in the United States. In 1962, Philadelphia warriors center Wilt Chamberlain won 100 points in the NBA while riding a pair of chuck, and beat the New York Knicks 169-147 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on March 2.

In July 2015, the company's management announced Chuck Taylor II, an improved model of Chuck Taylor All Star. [15] Chuck Taylor II was released on July 28, 2015. [16] With Nike technology, the modern lightweight Lunarlon insole retains most of the original look. The significant changes in the new sneakers are the removal of surround straps, high-quality canvas with high-quality stitching and no slip tongue.