Hear "Chuck Taylor," and what do most people think of?
It's probably not the All-American basketball player who slipped on the first pair in 1918. (Yes, Chuck Taylor is a real person.) Instead it's the slim canvas kicks that everyone from Nirvana and Mos Def to you and even your grandparents have or are still rocking to this day. Celebrating its 100th birthday this year, it has become one of the most iconic pairs of shoes in history.
Originally meant for the basketball court (like Jordans are to the sport today), the shoe eventually became a fashion statement and slowly slipped into the hands of world's groundbreaking musicians - inspiring new lines of shoes, a worldwide sneaker campaign and even a song by three of today's hot artists.
Aside from wearing Chucks as part of the rock star uniform, musicians have been directing some of their creativity from music over to the shoes one their feet. As part of Converse's collaboration with Bono's (Red) movement, Kaiser Chiefs lead singer Ricky Wilson designed a shoe that paid homage to the musical hometown of Leeds while a Ramones-inspired high-top shoe was created with distressed denim and carried the band's emblem.
Rapper Mos Def personalizes his version of the Converse All Star mid with a cityscape featuring the Brooklyn Bridge and a crown logo designed by the rapper-turned-actor himself. Although Rapper Lupe Fiasco's creation won't drop anytime soon, you can't help but stare at the Chicago Superstar's black patent leather sneaker with red accents.
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