's Blog Friday Flashback: Converse Jump Training Shoes

I want to apologize for the lack of post on here this week.  As it turns out when there is an ice storm 40 miles away your internet quits working for almost 3 days.  On Tuesday Kentucky got hit with snow, ice, and rain...we only got rain.  Do you know how long 3 days is in Internet time?  Don't think about it too long or you'll go insane.  So I could be over reacting quite a bit, but I did feel completely unconnected to the rest of the world. 

Anyway I am back with a great post for The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback.  Did you know that Converse used to make everything, well not everything but close.  Recently I've seen a Converse rubber rain jacket on eBay along with some fishing boots.  We've all seen something similar to these in Eastbay, but I've only actually ever know one person to buy shoes like these.  There really aren't many words to describe these shoes so just take a look.

 

  

  

 

I am pretty sure that idea for shoes like this is to keep your legs flexed and increase muscles size.   It is a similar idea to Chicken farms that tie their Chickens down so that stand on their tip toes all of the time to increase muscle size.  The only differences are that you can take these shoes off and people won't eat your meaty legs from a bucket.


I'll be talking about this more next week, but congrats to Jameer Nelson for being selected as an Eastern Conference All Star reserve.  How big a deal is this? Well, Converse will have as many players in the All Star game as Jordan and Reebok, so I'd say it's a pretty big deal. 

Also if you get the chance check out the Marquette vs. Georgetown game tomorrow.  All of the Marquette staff will be rocking the Converse Pro Leather 76 as part of the Coaches vs Cancer weekend.  Also keep an eye out in the crowd as Converse will be hooking up the student section with some free t-shirts too!   

Interview with SUBMiT.

 

I think we can all agree that Converse and Music will be linked forever.  Examples include the release of the "My Drive Thru" track in the summer. Also there have been a bevy of collaborations featuring Kurt Cobain, The Doors, Black Sabbath, The Grateful Dead, AC/DC, Metallica, Pink Floyd, The Who, and I am sure there will be more in the future.  The majority of these releases have been Chuck Taylor All Stars with a few other models thrown in here and there.

Collaborations haven't been exclusive to Rock acts though, a few years ago Converse and Mos Def joined forces for a Chuck Mid and a Weapon release.  And I know we've all seen the Black Patent/Red Product (RED) Lupe Fiasco chucks in high and ox.  In fact I am sure there are others that I am forgetting.  

All of this brings me to the up and coming artist SUBMiT.  It turns out that the the resident of Marietta, Georgia is a fan of Converse.  I was fortunate enough to get an interview with SUBMiT and you will see below.

The Converse Blog:  I've read that you started out as a poet and then transitioned into a recording artist, how important has your foundation in poetry been to your music?


SUBMiT:  Yeah. I think that one of the things that a lot of people lack in their approach to hip hop and music in general is emotion. Poetry is possibly the most emotional form of writing. It's not constricted by counts or bars or measures, blah blah blah. It's very raw expression. I think that an artist has to learn to express him or herself without the confines of tempo, then it's easier to learn to rap within the beat rather than against it. The emcee's voice should be another instrument in the music, not just an overlay.


TCB:  How did your moniker, SUBMiT, come about?

SUBMiT:   I think that there is so much more power in the act of submission than it gets credit for. A phrase that I've come up with is that "There's rebellion in the submission." I want my life to be a submission to God, and His will for me. In that submission there is a lot of rebellion from the World's version of sanity. I came up with the name to remind me that God's the reason I do this. And I spell it with a lower-cased "I" to remind myself that things going on around me (I) are a lot bigger than me. There are plans that transcend what "I" do. I'm complicated like that. [laughs]


TCB:  Where does your inspiration for your music and life come from?

SUBMiT:   Lots of things. A song off my next collection is almost a word for word conversation that I've had. Actually lots of my inspiration comes from conversations. I mostly write about things I see. Life is inspiration for me. And you can't have life without God. So ultimately it all comes back to my faith. That's why I do this music thing.



TCB:  So would you say you're a Christian Artist or an Artist that is a Christian?

SUBMiT:  I've thought about that a lot. I think I'm more of an artist who is a Christian. I have lots of songs that stem from my faith but because of the light that I put them in, they're applicable to anyone. I really just write about what I see and who I am. If I see cool clothes, I write about cool clothes. If I see God, I write about God.



TCB:  You're on a desert island and you can only have one book, one cd, one video game, and one movie. Assuming you have the ability to use these items, what would they be?

SUBMiT:  Book…can it be a book series? The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker. There are three books; Black, Red, and White. That series gives the best illustration of the relationship between God and Man. And CD would definitely be The Cool, by Lupe Fiasco. In my opinion, its concept is so simple, that it's revolutionary. The stories he tells are literally timeless because the subject matter in the album is about he being cool always dies and comes back. That's a cycle in humanity that will go on forever. A video game? I'm not much of a gamer but I love Halo. I haven't played Halo 3 much, so it'd have to be Halo 2. Movie? I'm not much of a movie watcher either. My favorite movie always seems to be whatever I watched last so, Seven Pounds.


TCB:  So, I heard that you're a fan of Converse, what is it about the brand that draws you to their products?


SUBMiT:  I'm into vintage stuff. And there's nothing more vintage that converse. They've just always been around. They're literally a piece of American culture.

TCB:  Are you into Chucks or other Converse?


SUBMiT:   I used to be really heavy into Chucks. [laughs] I laid off for a while for a pretty childish reason. A guy that I really didn't like just kept mentioning them as his like "trademark shoe." [laughs] So that got me into other converse. I have Skid Grips and John Varvatos' Purcells but The 90's CONS are like my vice right now. I just got a pair of Run'n'slam 93's off eBay. I just like having what other people don't [laughs]


TCB:  Do you have a favorite pair? A Pair you're searching for?


SUBMiT:  My favorite pair? Hmm. That's like asking for a parent's favorite kid. But If I had to pick, it would be my all black leather Chucks. Those things are so beat up, they're the most comfortable pair of shoes I have. They have this extra comfort sole in them. They're great, but I'm looking for a pair of Aero Jams at a good price. They're so rare they end up getting to really high bids on eBay. I'm still working with a high schooler's budget, so I'm waiting for a good find.


TCB:  Now that Converse is in its second century, what would you like to see Converse do in the next 5 years?


SUBMiT:  I'm happy I'm seeing more retros. I was on the site today. The Odessa's are really sick. I know they brought back the Grandmama's a while back, but it seems that Converse tweaks the Chucks, Purcells, and Weapons a lot more than other sneakers. It's good that other sneakers are getting to have some comebacks.

TCB:  If you could do a collaboration with Converse, which Converse shoe would you use?


SUBMiT:  Definitely the Aero Jams. I love those sneakers. I'd really love to see some crazy solid color ways on those. I saw some all whites and about died. How sick would some all gold or all silver Aero Jams look? With some crazy contrast on the stitching, like red or purple. Those would be the sickest sneakers ever.

Check out SUBMiT's myspace page for more information and to hear some of his tracks.  You can also download his first two mixtapes Synthetic Authority Vol.1 and Vol.2.  I know there are more bands and artist out that have a special place for Converse in your heart...hit me up and we can do an interview on the blog too.  Thanks for checking out the blog and don't forget to head over to SUBMiT's page and take a listen...which is where I got the picture at the top of the page from.

's Friday Flashback: Converse Athletic Footwear

Welcome to the Converse Blog's Friday Flashback.  Today's post is a unique Canvas converse shoe from way back in the day.  It features a two stripe pattern on the upper with a extra layer of Rubber with the V logo.  It almost looks like an outrigger that you see on Converse shoes today.  It has a strong looking rubber toe cap like you would find on Chucks.  However, it features a sturdy extra ankle padding.  Aside from the arrangement of the upper there isn't really anything I haven't seen in some form on a Converse shoe before. 

However, the outsole is where this shoe's uniqueness really shines.  It features a honeycomb pattern, which is now mostly associated with Reebok.  I think it would be safe to say that these shoes predate the existence of Reebok as a company.  I don't know what any of that means, but I find it interesting.

  

  

  

 

 

That's for checking out the blog, look for some interesting stuff around the corner.

's Weapon Wednesday: Weapon Ox with Strap.

I was searching around on some of the international Converse sites and I came across these from Converse Korea.  Previously I have shown you pictures of Weapons from Converse Korea, most they have been mid top Weapons with Straps.  Today I found a Weapon Ox that came with a strap.  Here it is in White/Black colorway.

Thanks for checking out the blog, come back for Converse awesomeness.

CX Professional Leather Vulc: Presidential Inauguration Edition

Let me just say that today I am extremely proud to be an American citizen.  What happened today defies history, the amount of change that has taken place in our short existence of a nation is remarkable.  Regardless of who you voted for, today will be remembered as one of the most important days in the history of these United States.  Throughout President Obama's campaign the word Change was seemingly used in every speech or campaign.  

So to honor the desire for Change today I am proud to post the Converse CX Professional Leather Vulc.   I found this shoe on Converse China's website.  While this may at first look like a traditional Converse shoe one only needs to look past the Chevron to see that change.  The shoe features the traditional Chevron, but in place of the star is the Converse script.  

While it was not in my original intention, the two colorways seem rather fitting today coming in Black/White and White/Black.  Today represents many different achievements either personally or nationally.  To me as a white male in predominantly white community I am overwhelmed by a feeling of unity in my Country.  Now is a time in our history that we must rely on each other in ways that we had abandoned in our recent years of prosperity.

 

  

 

Thank you for stopping by and checking out the blog.  Enjoy today for what it truly means, that a nation of our size can have a peaceful transfer of power in a world that largely lacks peace.   

's Friday Flashback: Pro Leather era basketball shoes.

Welcome to the Converse Blog’s Friday Flashback.  I am really excited for today’s post for a few different reasons.  More times than not the Friday Flashback post are my favorite, but my favorite posts are the shoes that I don’t know anything about.  Today I don’t have a name for these shoes, I am not even sure when they released.  However, my best guess is the late 70’s or the early 80’s.  I am also particularly excited about today’s post because I am getting out of down for a few days on a retreat to Gatlinburg, TN.  I am going with the Church I went to while I was in college, so I am going to be seeing a bunch of people I haven’t seen in awhile.  But anyway, enough about me lets get to the shoes.

These shoes have the same midsole and outsole as the Pro Leathers, but has completely different upper.  The upper is made from a Maroon Suede, seriously you never see that.  The extra leather line around the ankle and the Chevron and Star appear to be Tan.  The heel tap also features the fantastic Star in Square logo.  There also seems to be some extra padding around the ankle that looks really comfortable.   These are screaming for a re-issue release. 

 

  

  

 

Kirk Hinrich came up big last night against LeBron James and the other Cavs with a 3 in OT that helped to seal the game.  And Alando Tucker got some burn last night for the Suns.  Hopefully I can find some pics to post sometime. 

Kirk Hinrich returns in the Converse 0100.

Finally it happened the other night. I've been waiting since the summer Olympics to see the Converse 0100 on the feet of some NBA players. When Kirk Hinrich returned to the Bulls line up the other night he did it in a pair of Converse 0100. Personally this is my favorite Converse shoe to come out in quite awhile. If you haven't tried on a pair of these yet then you're really missing out. Hit up Eastbay, Finishline, or Converse.com for some deeply reduced prices. Kirk is rocking a White/Black/Red PE edition of one the cleanest shoes I've ever seen.

Now if we can just get everyone else to start wearing these. I especially want to see the Kyle Korver and Alando Tucker colorways. That's about it for today, but while I have you attention let me just say Jodie Meeks. I've heard some Dwyane Wade comparisons, but we'll have to see how the rest of the season goes.

Dwyane Wade in Playoff Wade 1

Hi all, sorry for the no show on Friday. I ended up getting called into work when I didn't expect to, I mean really who misses the first week back from Christmas break. It was cool though, except that I didn't get write a post. I could have posted after school but we had plans to head down to Knoxville and eat at Ye Olde Steak House. If you're ever in Knoxville this is a must stop on your trip, and you've got to get the charcoaled mushrooms.

I also must say that I am extremely behind in emails, like to an unhealthy level. I will try my best to get caught up very soon. Keep them coming though, I love hearing from everyone.

As you can see from the picture above, Dwyane Wade finally wore something different than the Wade 1...okay, well sort of. He brought back out the Wade 1 Playoff edition, which featured the Converse circle and star logo for the first time. I really don't understand Dwyane's continued assault on The Wade 4's. He should have figured out before they released that he didn't like them. I've seen around the web that a lot of people aren't really feeling the 4's and most them seem to mention the fact that Dwyane won't even wear them either. Oh well time will tell, if Dwyane isn't wearing the 4's by All Star weekend, he probably never will. That's just a guess though, but by that time will it even matter. Man I can get depressed quickly haha. Anyway that's it for today, thanks for checking out the blog.

's Weapon Wednesday: China Year of the Ox edition

I am trying to do some really good detective work on these Weapons.  First lets start with what I know, these are China release edition of the Weapon.  The second thing I know is that there is a pattern on the Y bar that looks like an animal.  The third thing I know is that the animal in the pattern has horns.  After that I did what any good detective would do...head over to Wikipedia.  As it would turn out, there is a lot good free information there...who knew?  What I learned was that on January 26th 2009, China (and other countries that observe the Chinese new year) will celebrate the year of the Ox.

I just hope I am correct, there are two other colorways of this shoe, I'll try to get some better pictures for another post.  Thanks for checking out the blog, let me know what you think. 

The Converse Blog: CONS Skateboarding Sample

There seems to a lot of interest in the new CONS skateboarding line. One advantage is having shoes that don't have tongues that could double as airplane pillows. Today I have pictures of a sample colorway of the CONS Pro Leather.

That's it for today, look for more information on the CONS product in future blog post. Thanks for checking out the blog.

The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback: Welcome to 2009.

Happy Belated 2009, I completely forgot to mention that on Wednesday. Hopefully you're all enjoying a fresh start for this new year. It seems fitting that the first post of the new year would be a Friday Flashback. What a great way to break into the second Converse Century. These is a classic Converse ox shoe, but I can't remember the name, but I have seen it in some classic advertisements before.

I can't read what it says on the inside of the shoe, but this maybe a release from another country. I would say these came from Japan or China, either way they're still on older shoe.

Well that's it for today, thanks for checking out the Converse Blog!