Converse
In 1908 Marquis Mills Converse founded Converse Rubber Corporation. Initially, the company devoted itself to producing galoshes and other working rubber footwear. Since it was seasonal goods, the company was looking for a way to ensure a year-round sale of rubber footwear. She has decided to start producing sports shoes that she will be interested in throughout the year. Because at that time American basketball was becoming very popular, the company saw the opportunity to offer players special basketball shoes. After long research and development, the first version of the Converse All Star basketball shoe was produced in 1917. The first All Star boots were in natural brown with black trim. In the 1920s, All Star was made in a black cloth or leather version. All Star shoes became the first mass-produced basketball shoes in North America. The boot consisted of a very thick rubber outsole and a cloth, sometimes a leather upper that covered the ankle. Converse shoes were used by the US Army during the Second World War for military exercises. Converse shoes are nowadays used as a common shoe around the world and their popularity is constantly rising.