Jack Purcell and Converse move forward with a new twist on Purcell high and low models. This season sees the Johnny Hi and Johnny Ox take on a new form in soft woven textile patterns across the upper. Standard details are still present with Converse’s iconic rubber cap toe, vulcanized sole and broad woven laces pulling the shoe together. Check out these two new shoes at Kith Brooklyn and KithNYC.com.

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Legendary NYC based artist David Ellis always works outside of boundaries. On a day when it poured incessantly in Manhattan, he brought his wheat-pasted look and feel to 23rd St and 11th Ave in Manhattan, creating a wall that mixes the urban and the rural. For more on the Converse Wall to Wall series: http://wwwconverse.com/WalltoWall

The 104 year old architect Oscar Niemeyer has collaborated with Converse to produce a limited edition collection of shoes for fall. Models include the Chuck Taylor All Star Hi, Chuck Taylor All Star Oxford, Chuck Taylor All Star Chukka boot, Skid Grip Oxford and the Jack Purcell. Lines of red stitching contrast the neutral ran and white body, similar to the red canopy on his Ibirpuera auditorium. The canvas body features a print with a handwritten poem by the Brazilian architect about his love for curves in architecture.

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Today, CONVERSE UK announces the launch of REPRESENT, a free summer music series that invites fans and artists to represent their music and celebrate musical diversity at London’s legendary 100 Club, the longest running popular music venue in the world.

From July 30th to August 10th, Converse will bring REPRESENT to life through the ultimate live music experience at the iconic 100 Club. With headline acts to include Plan B, Nas, Paul Weller, Spiritualized, Toots and The Maytals, SBTRKT, UK Subs, Santigold, Overkill, Kano, John Talabot, Django Django, Best Coast and other special guests, the free concert series will present nine gigs, featuring a total of 45 notable artists who have helped shape the global music landscape of the past, present and future. Since its inception in 1942, the 100 Club has been famed for its democratic celebration of music of all genres.  Following in this spirit, REPRESENT curates its widest roster of artists to date, giving UK fans a unique chance to see their favorite acts in an intimate setting.

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Converse, announced today it will be hosting Converse City Carnage: NYC this summer. City Carnage: NYC is a two-day free event celebrating skateboarding and music from Friday, July 20 – Saturday, July 21 featuring Kenny Anderson, Nick Trapasso and a performance from Sleigh Bells.

Leading up to City Carnage: NYC, Converse will refurbish the Hudson River Park’s Pier 62 Skate Park, a 15,000 square foot park overlooking the Hudson River that will serve as the site of the City Carnage event.

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On May 30, 2012, Converse presented The City Blooms, an art installation that added a blast of color to Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood. Partnering with famed set designer Chime Serra, Converse took over an abandoned garage at 300 Lafayette Street and filled it to the brim with a blossoming display of our love for color.

Fix to Ride is Converse’s global platform that sets out to improve derelict concrete skate parks, refurbishing and reviving them for the local community. With huge cracks and uneven surface that had developed over the 35 years since its initial launch, the historic bowl at Kennington in London was almost unusable.

But after two weeks of renovation, the fixed-up bowl was unveiled on May 26th to an excited crowd who gathered in the London sunshine to witness the celebration along with an Converse UK Skateboarding competition. As part of the competition, some of the UK’s top skate stores battled it out until ‘Rollersnakes’ came out on top, taking home the winning prize along with the bragging rights of becoming London’s first Fix to Ride champions.

The Fix to Ride Kennington bowl is located at the northern end of Kennington Park in London and is now open for the skate community.

This comes as a shock to many with the news that Nike has decided to relinquish its relationship with Cole Haan and Umbro today in a report in efforts to focus on their sports brands, including Nike, Converse, Hurley and Jordan.

“We see tremendous opportunity to accelerate profitable growth around the world by continuing to deliver innovation and inspire consumers through the NIKE brand.” said Mark Parker, President & CEO of NIKE, Inc. “We also see significant potential in Jordan, Converse and Hurley, which have unique consumer relationships that complement the NIKE Brand.”*

“Divesting of Umbro and Cole Haan will allow us to focus our resources on the highest-potential opportunities for NIKE, Inc. to continue to drive sustainable, profitable growth for our shareholders.”*

Cole Haan, which specializes in casual and dress leather footwear and bags, was acquired by NIKE, Inc. in 1988. The company is based in New York. Umbro is a football (soccer) specialist brand based in Manchester, UK, acquired by NIKE, Inc. in 2008. The process of divesting of these two businesses will begin immediately, and is expected to be complete by the end of NIKE, Inc.’s fiscal 2013 (May 31, 2013).”

HighSnobiety

In this edition of “Converse Rubber Tracks: Oh, Hello”, Converse invites Brooklyn rapper Theophilus London to the studio and have him share the meaning behind his track “Lisa,” as well as what his feelings are following his session at Converse Rubber Tracks.

Converse has always managed to aligned itself with musicians and become a staple in many artist wardrobes. Converse releases these Chuck Taylors in homage to Caribbean Music in yellow and navy; the hi-tops’ all-over prints depict sax players, percussionists, dancers in vintage attire, palm trees and 45s. The limited-edition kicks are available online from Tokyo shop, Atmos.

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