After almost a year and a half of waiting, the collaboration between British designer Samuel Ross’ A-COLD-WALL* and Converse is finally on the way.
The collection includes two evolved forms of classic Converse silhouettes and two high-concept nylon tracksuits. While beefed-up renditions of the Chuck Taylor have been popular for years now, Ross takes the icon to an entirely new level. On the silhouette, he noted, “One of my earliest memories of Converse is owning a pair of navy blue All-Stars at age 14. I was traveling to the Caribbean a lot and took those shoes on numerous hikes and across mountain trails. So, the experience of my childhood effected this idea of changing the All-Star into something that is more hard-wearing. You have a mix of cultural experience overlaid with A-COLD-WALL*’s opinion on how footwear should operate.”
The A-COLD-WALL x Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Lugged is almost unrecognizable in its lineage save for its rubber toecap, and it uses ACW’s signature polygonal overlays to practically encase the wearer’s foot in durability. The model’s upper is made of ripstop material, and the shoe appears to use the same industrial cord-style laces found on 2018’s A-COLD-WALL x Nike Zoom Vomero 5+. The other silhouette in the collection, a completely abstract rendition of Converse’s famous ERX basketball sneaker. Using rough, embossed suede atop an icy blue midsole, the A-C-W ERX uses the design house’s signature brutalist concrete tones while still embracing the sense of humanity and cultural memory the original Converse ERX carries.
The collection’s nylon tracksuits are an updated take on turn-of-the-millennium basketball warm-up suits, with additions like enhanced ventilation to increase wearability. According to Ross, the apparel “offers a purist vision of A-COLD-WALL,” and it’s easy to see why; the pieces use harsh asymmetry and tonal taupes and industrial hues to completely rework the position of a traditional tracksuit.
The A-COLD-WALL* x Converse collection releases via A-C-W’s website on September 14th and via Converse’s website on September 17th. You can check out photos of the collection down below in the lead-up to its release.
A-COLD-WALL* x Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Lugged
Color: Grey Violet/Grey Violet-Grey Violet
Style Code: 168177C
Release Date: September 14, 2020
Price: $140 USD
A-COLD-WALL* x Converse ERX 260 Mid
Color: Grey Violet/Grey Violet-Grey Violet
Style Code: 168176C
Release Date: September 14, 2020
Price: $160 USD
A-COLD-WALL* x Converse apparel
Release Date: September 14, 2020
