Although known worldwide for its iconic silhouette, the Chuck Taylor All Star, Converse has a number of legendary models that are well worth revisiting. This is the case with the Converse CX Weapon, a basketball sneaker that is back, improved but still retaining all its essence.
The decline of a legend
The year was 1986 and Converse, once a favourite brand of virtually every NBA player, had been in steep decline since Nike’s 1984 launch of the legendary Air Jordan 1 turned the basketball shoe market upside down.
And it was not only Nike that took the lead, as other brands such as Reebok and adidas quickly realised that the future of basketball sneakers lay in the use of cutting-edge technology combined with an association of the product with the image of the great players of the moment.
Converse Weapon or the secret weapon for reigning supreme on the courts
Fortunately for the Massachusetts brand, this situation was about to change with the launch of what was to be its big secret weapon: the Converse Weapon.
Following Nike’s example of customising the shoe in the colours of Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, Converse created a silhouette that could be constructed in a combination of three colours to suit any NBA team or player.
Ultimately it was Larry Bird, of the Boston Celtics and Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers – rivals from their college days on the court, but excellent friends – who would be chosen, both with their respective personalised trainers. The result? The launch was a complete success and Converse once again took its place in the world’s most competitive basketball league.
The 80s icon returns in 2021
35 years after the launch of one of its most iconic silhouettes, Converse introduces the Converse Loyalty Weapon CX, a reboot of the shoe that turned basketball courts around the world upside down.
Keeping the original design largely intact, the Converse Loyalty Weapon CX features a premium leather upper with the brand’s iconic logo on the side and the ‘y’ structure that supports the ankle and increases stability with every stride.
Underneath, the classic midsole of the basketball silhouette has been transformed thanks to the CX foam injection, adding thickness and power to the whole shoe. In addition, the rubber on the sole also increases in size, peeking out from the sides. A futuristic redesign for the former queen of the courts to regain her throne, this time on the streets.
The new Converse Loyalty Weapon CX is now available at FOOTDISTRICT.