Converse launches Chuck Taylor design contest
The Chuck Taylor All Star isn't simply a venerable basketball sneaker or a nostalgic fashion statement; it's also a blank canvas, a clean slate that can serve as a medium for artistic expression.
Or so states Converse, the North Andover sneaker brand, which invites creative types to "Put your world on our canvas."
Along with Utah Jazz basketball star Kyle Korver, Converse is launching a contest that asks shoe artists to come up with designs of their very own All Star.
The contest is called MyChucks, and Converse promises to produce the winning entry and have it sold exclusively by Eastbay, a subsidiary of retailer Foot Locker Inc.
"As part of the contest, Kyle Korver submitted his own design of the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe, which will be featured online, along with a video of him designing his shoe and explaining the process," Converse said in a press release. "Korver's shoe features pinstripes to represent all of the people in his life, and a red stripe to represent himself and his desire to be an original. Converse will produce 226 pairs of the shoe, which pays homage to Korver's jersey number 26, and will be donated to the Kyle Korver Foundation, whose mission is to make a positive impact on the lives of under-privileged children by improving the quality of life for disadvantaged youth and their families."
To enter the MyChucks competition, contestants can visit mychucks.eastbay.com to download the entry kit, which contains a silhouette of the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe and contest instructions, Converse said.
"Participants need to submit a scanned image of their design and a 20- to 30-second video explaining their entry," Converse said. "Submissions will be placed in an online, public gallery where visitors can vote on each design."
"Converse added: "The top five designs with the most votes will enter the final round of judging, which is determined by the total number of votes, and the judging of artistic ability, creative expression, and overall design by a panel from Converse and Eastbay. The grand prize will be announced on or about July 11, 2008 on mychucks.eastbay.com."
Converse is now a subsidiary of Nike Inc.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)
