The Converse Blog's Friday Flashback: Chany He: Helium Skate Shoe.

There has been all kinds of stuff going on the last few days. I've been emailed pics from the Open Gym in Philly, there is a new Converse contest with Eastbay, plus I am working on something new for the blog. However, all of that will have to wait, at least for today. Why? Because today is Friday, and Friday's are for Flashbacks. Today's Flashback is the Chaney He: These were the only Converse Helium skate shoes that were released, and they were signature shoes for Chany Jeanquenin.


The first colorway, is the black/blue/grey colorway. These actually are in my collection, although I've never been a skateboard. As you can see in the heel area, Converse Helium provided the cushioning for these.

They also featured Converse ABS, which to best of my memory was a technology used make the materials more durable. This was applied to the cage looking material on the outer side of these shoes. Below are the two other colorways that were released. I am extremely jealous of anyone that has the White/Blue colorway. I always thought they looked the best.

You can see the Helium logo on outsole of this shoe here. The logo is combination of C for Converse and He: for the periodic table's symbol for Helium.



Here is a Converse for the Chaney He:
Skate Commercial for Converse featuring Chany, Felix, and Kenny


Before I sign off for today, I want to talk about Converse Helium. This is by far my favorite Converse technology. I still say to this day the best basketball shoe I've ever had was the Converse He:01. Converse Helium really came at a terrible time for Converse, in the 99-01 range in which the company fell into bankruptcy.

To me, Converse Helium had the most potential to take Converse to the next level. At the time when Converse Helium was announced, Basketball, Training, Running, and Skate shoes were promised. I even went as far as to pre-order a pair of the running shoes from Hibbit's. However, the running shoes were all canceled except one pair. The training shoes never came out here in America and the skate team died out shortly after. Basketball was the only catagory to continue on the Helium line. It was two years after the initial release before Helium found its way to a Converse team shoe.

I've always wanted to see a full length Converse Helium shoe would look and perform. Hopefully someday Converse Helium will return. Until then, I'll have to live in the past, and in what could've been. Thanks for stopping in, please take a second to vote on the way out.

The Converse Blog's Weapon Wednesday: Paint Splatter

These Weapons are out of control. I recently saw them on Converse China's website. Recently like yesterday, a research day. For lack of true name, I am going to call these the Weapon Paint Splatter. That's pretty much the best description of what you'll see below. I wish I had better, larger pictures, but these were the only pics I found.

They really could have gone over the top with these. However, they look more like the stuff you'd lay down on the floor when you're painting, which is a nice change of pace. I doubt we'll see these over here, so if you're over in China for the Olympics you might want to pick these up. What? I am just saying.

I am tossing around the idea of doing some personal profiles for Converse fans. I'd need a picture of you wearing Converse and answers to a few questions. I'll try to come up with some more solid by Friday. Thanks for coming over to the Converse blog.

The Converse Blog: Converse and Target sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g....

Since I've posted last a couple of interesting Converse related items have taken place. Marquette made it to the finals of the Maui, but lost to Duke. Western Kentucky played a big game against Gonzaga last night, but came up just short. Maurice Evans got traded to the Magic, which means no more Laker colorways, for now anyway. What also sucks about this trade is it's one less team that has a Converse guy, now the Magic, Heat, and 76ers both have two. Also a new set of ads started rolling out, but I'll talk more about those on Monday.

What I want to touch on today, Black Friday, is the new relationship between Converse and Target.

While I am not talking about these custom designed Chucks, you can go here to find many more at Punk Your Chucks. No, what I am going to talk about is the new partnership between Converse and Target. First so you know what the details are read the press release below in blue.

N. ANDOVER, Mass., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Converse Inc. and Target Corporation have reached an innovative partnership agreement to offer One Star vintage inspired sport lifestyle apparel and footwear exclusively at Target stores nationwide beginning in February 2008. The One Star collection will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign. Select sportswear and footwear styles will also be available at Target.com.

"We are very excited about this tremendous partnership celebrating Converse's iconic One Star label with a world-class retail partner like Target. One Star has been a successful part of the Converse family for more than 30 years. This collaboration will enable us to deliver an innovative, premium head-to-toe lifestyle product collection while creating an exclusive One Star offering for Target guests," said Jack Boys, Chief Executive Officer, Converse Inc.

Target will offer One Star exclusive lifestyle and vintage inspired contemporary sportswear collections for men and women, including denim, non- denim bottoms, knits, wovens, graphic tees, sweaters, dresses, skirts and outerwear. One Star footwear includes exclusive and limited edition product for men, women and children.

"We are thrilled to bring Converse One Star products exclusively to our guests in new and exciting ways, and we look forward to creating a unique in- store experience that embodies the One Star lifestyle," said Gregg Steinhafel, president of Target. "This partnership is another way in which we strive every day to bring our guests differentiated merchandise at a great value."

The One Star label made its debut in 1974 with a low cut, suede version of the original Converse basketball oxford with the iconic Converse five-point star design on its side. The One Star shoe quickly became a national phenomenon. It was adopted by the West Coast surf and skate scene of the 1970s and 1980s, and later by the grunge music scene of the 1990s, as a badge of honor -- a retro statement of their alternative and rebellious lifestyle.

One Star continues to be an influential part of Converse's rich heritage in sports and music as the Converse brand celebrates its centennial in 2008. One Star has been a successful franchise and has enjoyed strong international growth in recent years. Converse's partnership with Target will bring new energy to the One Star brand in the United States, introducing the iconic shoe to a new generation of consumers and Target guests. One Star will continue to be offered internationally through other retail partners. Converse's legendary Chuck Taylor All Star and other Converse footwear and apparel such as Dwyane Wade performance basketball product and Converse by John Varvatos men's and women's apparel will continue to be distributed in the United States and internationally through a broad range of retail channels.



Where to start....I've got to honest at first I wasn't really that happy to see this. Mainly because up until the other day, my feelings on Target were rather negative. I don't really have an explanation for my bitterness towards Target, and I actually hate Wal-Mart worse. That's when I realized it could be worse, what if this deal was with Wal-Mart? Don't get me wrong, I shop at Wal-Mart, but I'd rather not. Anyway, I am almost completely behind the deal, but I am waiting until February to see how it works.

Over the last few years One Star's have been kind of put on the back burner. It's always been Chucks, Jack Purcells, and One Stars in that order. With the revival of the slip on Vans, Converse quickly started making slip on Skid Grips, a boat shoe that hadn't been sold in the US in a good number of years. So I am really excited to see the One Stars get some love again. As you read in the release, there will also be apparel...and lots of it. The key piece of info from the release was...Target will offer One Star exclusive lifestyle and vintage inspired contemporary sportswear collections for men and women, including denim, non- denim bottoms, knits, wovens, graphic tees, sweaters, dresses, skirts and outerwear. One Star footwear includes exclusive and limited edition product for men, women and children. That pretty much sums it up for the apparel, which is the aspect I am probably most excited about.

Well I could probably talk more about this, but I am missing out on Black Friday. Oh, I almost forgot, Converse.com is having a one day sale so stop by and check it out. Thanks for coming by and enjoy the rest of the weekend.