The Converse “Chuck Taylor” All Star is the classic American sneaker. Since its origins in the early 20th century, chucks had always been made in the USA, and so the anouncement in January, 2001 by the Converse Company that they were declaring bankruptcy and halting all manufacture of Chuck Taylors and other products in North America was upsetting to many people. The new owners of Converse are continuing to manufacture Chucks Taylor shoes but only overseas in Asia. In 2003, Nike, Inc. purchased Converse from the interim owners. What is the significance and importance of these changes?

The basketball shoe is an American invention and yet almost the entire manufacturing base for athletic shoes is now elsewhere. For many years, the manufacturing of Chuck Taylor shoes continued to hold out against this trend, and was the only major name brand to still be made primarily in the USA. Many people bought chucks to support our American manufacturing base.

Too many inventions developed in this country are no longer made here. Most of the clothing items you buy in a store are no longer made here, also. Now Converse “Chuck Taylor” All Stars have gone they way of these other products.

Well perhaps there is one small benefit, if you had the foresight to stock up on “Made in USA” Chuck Taylors. They continue to go up in value as collectors’ items.