For the past decade, the most popular sneaker has been a plain white canvas shoe with a red heart sewn on the side. For the first time, a new generation of sneakers was introduced to Rei Kawakubo and Comme des Garçons Play’s fashion-forward empire by collaborating with Converse on the Chuck Taylor All-Star in 2009.
Sneaker culture has made an obvious impact on popular culture over the last decade. Geek Internet forum catalog recites and cornball dudes who put a lot of work into their daily on-foot sneaker snap are long gone. Everyone these days seems to be a sneakerhead. As a result of Converse’s long-standing cooperation with CDG Play, various styles of the Chuck Taylor All-Star have been born. Chuck 70s in both black and white with a red heart on the side are now widely available in both high and low-cut styles in both colorways.
Designed by Filip Pagowski, the heart and eyes emblem of Comme des Garçons Play is instantly recognizable. Instead of the avant-garde, maybe threatening, pieces from the mainline line, Play’s clothing focuses on accessibility. It’s okay to venture into the vast world of CDG Converse with oversized graphic print T-shirts, striped mariniere long sleeves, perfumes, and accessories like Converse sneakers.
The CDG Play Chuck 70 may be seen all over town and on social media. Babies’ hype and proto-VSCO females swarmed the Tumblr pages with tight-laced “Chucks with the heart on the side”: feet askew and oversized knots hanging for reposting before Instagram grabbed over. The Play heart logo stands out like a sore thumb on stylish frayed cuffs or white Nike crew socks (cross-branding appears to be acceptable here). It’s a telltale sign of a budding sneakerhead — and they may not even know it.
High fashion and sneakers meet in the Play Chucks, a modern cliché. However, this does not rule out the possibility of a previous encounter between the two groups. Exorbitant sums of money and/or street cred were necessary for such collaborations as Gucci’s 1980s tennis shoes or Dapper Dan’s custom Louis Vuitton monogrammed Swoosh Air Force 1. Even the most recent Balenciaga goods are out of reach for most people’s budgets.
Despite Kanye West’s guarantee that ‘everyone who wants to get Yeezys will receive Yeezys!’, the Play Chuck retails for approximately half the price of a Yeezy BOOST 350 v2. A taste of the high life was made available to the common man when a simple shoe brand like Converse teamed up with a reputable fashion house like Comme des Garçons.
Review Contents
1. Converse Chuck 70 CDG Hi (Fir Green)
Converse is one of the most recognizable and revered shoe brands in the world. Founded in 1908, the white CDG Converse firm has been producing footwear for sports, the military, and everyone else for more than a century. Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star is the most known heart Converse shoe, a former basketball sneaker with a canvas or leather upper and a vulcanized rubber outsole. Since its inception, the style has been worn by people from many walks of life around the world and has remained virtually unchanged.
High-profile collaborations with Tyler, the Creator, Kith, Off-White, and more have employed Converse Chuck 70s, a lifestyle version of the sneaker based on its construction from the 1970s. Although Converse is now a division of Nike since 2003, its distinct and adaptable aesthetic continues with styles like Chuck Taylor, One Star, Run Hike, and many more.
Specifications
Brand: Converse
Department : Men’s
Pros
- Is available in 3 different colors.
- Laser-cut
- Comfortable leather sole
Cons
- It can lead to shoe bites.
2. Converse Chuck 70 CDG Play (Milk/White-High Risk)
Converse with a heart for both men and women PLAY MILK 150205C CONVERT CHUCK 70 CDG. It has a sole made of synthetic material. “White” is the low-top version of the popular CDG/Converse Chuck 70 Ox “White” collaboration shoe in white. “Milk” white canvases with Converse CDG shoes are used to create a fun and fashionable design. Bright red heart faces logo poking out of PLAY’s midsole. The midsole color complements the upper’s cream tone; silver lace eyelets and a black canvas heel stripe add contrast to the look.
In addition to traditional hardwood sponsorships, Converse’s lifestyle division is continuing to shift the needle with high-profile collaborations such as the one they did with Tyler, the Creator’s label, and Golf Le Fleur. The two have a number of different styles and colors that can be purchased, but the “Red/Blue” appearance that is featured on the One Star Ox was among the very first to be made available. This timeless design, which was the impetus for a blizzard of additional releases between the two brands, featured a flower instead of the Converse logo mark. The flower was designed by Golf.
Specifications
Brand: Joie
Dimensions: 13.9 x 9.1 x 5.1 inches
Department: Men’s
Weight: 2.6 Pounds
Pros
- Imported Textile
- Leather, and Rubber Sole
- Sole synthetic.
- The cream midsole, silver lace eyelets, and black canvas heel stripe complete the design.
- Padded leather insole with wrapped heel
Cons
- It may get dirty after time and would require good maintenance.
3. Converse Mens Chuck Comme Des Garçons/Half Heart
Converse is one of the most recognizable and revered CDG Converses on feet brands in the world. Founded in 1908, the shoe firm has been producing footwear for sports, the military, and everyone else for more than a century. Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star is the most known comme de garcons Converse shoe, a former basketball CDG Converse green with a canvas or leather upper and a vulcanized rubber outsole.
Since its inception, the style has been worn by people from many walks of life around the world and has remained virtually unchanged. High-profile collaborations with Tyler, the Creator, Kith, Off-White, and more have employed Converse Chuck 70s, a lifestyle version of the CDG Converse high black based on its construction from the 1970s. Although Converse with hearts is now a division of Nike since 2003, its distinct and adaptable aesthetic continues with styles like Chuck Taylor, One Star, Run Hike, and many more.
Specifications
Brand: Converse
Color: Black
Product Dimensions: 0.39 x 0.39 x 0.39 inches
Department: Unisex-adult
Weight: 2.2 Pounds
Pros
- Imported Leather-and-Rubber Sole
- 100 percent Polished Soft Full Grain Leather
Cons
- Can have a defect in manufacturing.
4.
One of the brand’s designs that are considered to be even more iconic is known as the CDG Converse low on feet. The vast majority of individuals own at least one pair of these Converse sneakers, and it doesn’t matter whether you have the low top or the high top version. The comme des garcons continue to be one of the most popular models produced by the business even though it was named after its inventor, a basketball star.
One of the most successful partnerships for CDG Converse high top was with the high-end fashion label Comme des Garçon (CDG). The design of the black CDG Converse is straightforward but eye-catching, with CDG’s CDG Converse white low iconic heart and eyes emblem sneaking its way onto the top. It continues to be one of the designs that are sought after the most. In reaction to the commotion, the two brands even re-released two new colorways, one in grey and the other in blue.
Specifications
Brand: Converse
Color: Black
Product Dimensions: 0.39 x 0.39 x 0.39 inches
Department: Men’s
Weight: 2.2 pounds
Pros
- The boot opening measures approximately 4.5″ around
- memory foam footbed
- synthetic rubber sole
Cons
- Zipper may break
5. Converse Men's Low-Top Sneakers
Converse with red heart for both men and women. It has a sole made of synthetic material. “White” is the low-top version of the popular CDG/Converse Chuck 70 Ox “White” collaboration shoe in white. The “Milk” white canvas upper displays CDG PLAY’s heart face logo poking out over the midsole in bright red, making the shoe both fashionable and playful. The midsole color complements the upper’s cream tone; silver lace eyelets and a black canvas heel stripe add contrast to the look.
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Crater is a fantastic illustration of how the company has benefited from its ownership by the most successful sneaker brand on the planet. The Crater Chuck Taylor is inspired by Nike’s Space Hippie line of CDG Converse multi hearts, which are built from recycled materials and take on a hippie aesthetic. The midsole and canvas upper have been replaced with more eco-friendly and green materials, all while bringing a new aesthetic to the time-honored classic that has been around for a long time. This is the first time that Converse heart shoes have joined in on the action with a modern remix of their classic silhouette.
Specifications
Brand: Converse
Dimensions: 13.9 x 9.1 x 5.1 inches
Department: Men’s
Weight: 2.6 pounds
Pros
- It has a rubber sole
- The boot opening measures 9.68” approximately
- Heel height is 3.85 inches
- It has three different colors.
Cons
- A little too pricey
6. Converse x CDG
Comme des garcons sneakers are one of the most recognizable and revered shoe brands in the world. Founded in 1908, the shoe firm has been producing footwear for sports, the military, and everyone else for more than a century. CDG Converse low is the most known Converse shoe, a former basketball sneaker with a canvas or leather upper and a vulcanized rubber outsole.
Since CDG Converse high inception, the style has been worn by people from many walks of life around the world and has remained virtually unchanged. High-profile collaborations with Tyler, the Creator, Kith, Off-White, and more have employed Converse Chuck 70s, a lifestyle version of the sneaker based on its construction from the 1970s. Although Converse is now a division of Nike since 2003, its distinct and adaptable aesthetic continues with styles like the low-top Converse, Chuck Taylor, One Star, Run Hike, and many more.
Specifications
Brand: Converse
Product Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 5 inches
Department : Unisex-adult
Item weight: 14.4 Ounces
Pros
- It is made of 100 percent split suede.
- It is made up of rubber soles.
- The heel is approximately 3.25”
Cons
- Material may have manufacturing defects.
- Runs smaller in size
7. Converse Chuck 70 CDG Play (Milk/White-High Risk)
The Comme des Garçons PLAY x Converse Chuck 70 Ox “White” is a low-top version of the popular CDG and Converse collaboration sneaker. The stylish and playful design of comme des garcons shoes features a “Milk” white canvas upper with a bright red heart face logo peeking out above the midsole.
The midsole of this all white Converse matches the cream color of the upper, and the design is completed with silver lace eyelets and a black canvas stripe down the heel. The Converse x comme des garçons is an updated version of the classic comme des garçons Converse shoe that features a new Converse material and an updated version of the shape. These modern materials, which the manufacturer has dubbed “CX,” feature a stretch canvas and improved foam soles to ensure the wearer’s utmost comfort.
The sneaker is designed to be comfortable while simultaneously paying attention to the Chuck Taylor high top’s classic aesthetic. The all-white Converse comes in an “Obsidian” colorway, and the toe cap and the midsole are made of translucent rubber. The dark blue Converse shoes’ design for women is finished with an orange branding hit on the heel tab and outsole.
Specifications
Brand: Converse
Sole: Synthetic
Department: Men’s
Dimensions: 13.9 x 9.1 x 5.1 inches
Weight: 2.6 Pounds
Color: Black
Pros
- Comme des garcons Converse Lining is Microfiber.
- TPR sole on the outside.
- Polyurethane is the upper material
Cons
- The size might run small
8. Converse Chuck 70 CDG
The Comme des Garcons x Converse Chuck 70 features a playful take on the offbeat CDG Play heart. The iconic CDG PLAY heart logo appears on both sides of the classic white canvas body of the Chuck 70 low-top, rotating 90 degrees each time. The back of the commes de garcon features a familiar black stripe, and the heel features a white license plate tag.
The Comme des Garcons x Converse Chuck 70 low reintroduces the quirky, high-fashion CDG Play heart logo. All of the action takes place on a Chuck 70 olive green low-top, adding a new style to the labels’ collaborative catalog. The iconic CDG PLAY heart logo is featured across both sides of the upper, rotating 90 degrees each time. A familiar black stripe runs down the back of the shoe, while the white midsole is solid, including the license plate tag on the heel.
Specifications
Department: Men’s
Brand: Converse
Pros
- Made of synthetic material.
- Available are a variety of colors and sizes
Cons
- Can have manufacturing defects.
- Rivets may fall off
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9. Final Thought
The latter part of the 1970s marked the beginning of a new era in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which coincided with the first public appearance of the Converse All Star Pro Leather shoe. 45 years later, in honor of the shoe’s anniversary, a remained version of the shoe was made available for purchase. The replaceable star chevrons were one way to spot the difference, but they still maintained the ABA’s classic color scheme.
If the pseudo-psychoanalytical views on current fashion trends aren’t enough to convince you, the Play Chuck’s enduring popularity is. In addition to Kawakubo’s own Dover Street Market outlets, you can find these shoes in boutiques and select stores all around the world when they’re not all sold out. Comme’s bottom line has been fuelled by its continual supply falling enticingly short of demand for a long time. The brand’s edgier experiments like the platform-soled Cortez or see-through Dunks are supported by this bread-and-butter product, and separating the Play line does not harm brand power. Everybody wins here.
Style, like Darwin’s theory of evolution, is a result of the safety in numbers provided by a larger population. The Comme Chucks looked to have captured the hearts of everyone from impressionable teens to Instagram influencers to cool moms in the span of a decade. Sneaker fashion will undergo a transformation at some point. Converse and Comme des Garçons Play’s cooperation has proven to be a survival of the fittest for the past decade.
In 2015, Converse and CDG Play launched the Chuck 70 version of their collaboration. First-time buyers had to make do with the dated All-Stars and rare Pro Leather models, while those who arrived late in the game were rewarded with the more comfortable 1970s spec. Instagram had reached 400 million monthly users by this point, so everyone was seeing a lot of heart-shaped canvases and red hearts.
It has been five years since the Play Chuck became the starting point for other sneaker-themed fashion collaborations. This year, Chitose Abe’s Sacai/Nike LDWaffle may have been the most hyped shoe of the year, following Virgil Abloh’s ‘The Ten’ collection with Nike in 2017. She performed admirably even though the crowds had forgotten that this wasn’t her first rodeo with the Swoosh. But before all of this, Comme des Garçons Play’s peeping heart was hard at work on its silent revolution, as well. The fact is that many of the newcomers to the Rei Kawakubo movement have no idea who the designer is.