Established in 1908, Converse has had over a 100 year long history in shoe making. Characterised by the classic mainstay silhouette, the Chuck Taylor, Converse footwear has always managed to stay relevant throughout the ages with its simple and stylish design. Originally designing shoes for Tennis and Basketball players, Converse was adopted by skateboarders in the early 80's, especially the Chuck Taylor's and Jack Purcell's for their hard wearing rubber toe cap and grippy, flexible gum soles. In the mid to late 90s Converse began its first skate program with completely new models specifically designed for skateboarding. For a while Converse went quiet on the skate scene, but in 2009 they re-entered the skate market with a fresh outlook and new technology. This time re-jigging and improving classics such as the Chuck Taylor and One Star into skate appropriated shoes.