Converse invited New York jewelry designer Martine Ali to present her interpretation of the latest model in the De Luxe line and version of the Chuck 70 sneaker, the Converse Chuck 70 De Luxe Wedge. The pair’s main feature is the angular and elevated sole, with a sculpted effect, made of EVA foam, which finishes it off with a square and asymmetrical toecap. The upper part of the sneaker follows the classic design of the Chuck Taylor models, but reinterpreted with new construction and materials.
Martine began her creative exploration with the silhouette. Taking as a reference utilitarian jumpsuits used for walking in the water, which have their length adjustable on the piece itself, the new version of the pair proposes two ways of styling: with and without the leggings that allow it to be a mid-calf model, closer to the Chuck 70, or high top. The elements of New York’s urban style are in the choice of black as the sole color of the piece, with the upper entirely made of leather and the classic Chuck symbol, the sole, the toe cap and the laces, all also in black.
The only contrast is in the five metallic rivets placed on the upper as a fitting for the leg, which refer to the metal finishes for which Martine is famous, and in the contrasting stitching in some points on the upper part of the sneaker. The leggings, in fact, are not a mere complement: they were created to be adjustable, breathable and durable, with the Martine Ali logo placed in a minimal way, as well as full-length zippers and waxed laces, offering multiple style tricks for those who uses.
The Chuck 70 De Luxe Wedge is the latest example of Converse’s move to reimagine its DNA as a platform for the evolution of style, form and function in new sneakers. As it seeks to create the future, the brand will continue to make space for the creative expression of names that are defining culture in the present, like Martine.
