Chuck Taylor (born Charles Hollis Taylor) was only in high school when the Converse All-Star shoe was created, and he started wearing them during his basketball games. Later, he played for a successful team, the Akron Firestone Non-Skids, and he traveled around the country teaching high school and college students the fundamentals of the game. He showed up at Converse's Chicago office to ask for a job, sure that he could help sales by redesigning the foundation of the shoe and signing his name on the side.

Career Highs.
He was right. With Taylor's name on the brand, Converse's sales skyrocketed. He was the perfect salesman, with tight connections in the basketball industry and a magnetic personality. Now, the Converse All-Star is one of the best-selling shoes in history, with more than 750 million sold by the year 2000.
His iconic shoe is part of Americana – look for it in the popular movie “Hoosiers,” or on Larry Bird’s feet while making a jump shot in high school, or as a popular, uniquely unisex “lifestyle” shoe everywhere. - Abraham Aamidor, biographer
Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars on a Hoosiers movie poster.
Career Lows.
Chuck Taylor and Converse use to say that Taylor played for the “World Champion” Original Celtics from New York City and “Olympic champion” Buffalo Germans. It wasn't true, but the lie sold shoes. Converse was also criticized in the late '90s for producing their shoes in sweatshops.



Legacy.
Sure, Converse high-tops were around before Taylor, but he's the one who popularized them with his innovations and charisma. The shoes that started among basketball players have branched far from their athletic origins to all kinds of supporters today, from punk kids and greasers to grunge and prepsters. They are always in style, and they are always a statement.

Orlando Bloom in black Converse shoes on the red carpet.
Get the Look.
These days, there are Converse sneakers for any personality. On the Converse Website, you can customize your own shoes, choosing high- or low-tops (and a variety of other styles) and picking your perfect color or pattern. Pair them with jeans, shorts or a dress. 

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