Le Le x Patta x Converse 5th Anniversary Project | Hypebeast

Interview with Nathan Jobe

Hey Nathan, hope things are well and great to speak with you. For those unaware, what’s your role at Converse?

Things are good. I just recently had a baby girl, what a trip. A good friend of mine in the industry recently commented “that this is the greatest collaboration you’ve ever been apart of”, I agree she is a cutie. I am the Design Director of Converse – First String (select collaborations and special projects).

How long ago were the wheels set in motion for this Converse Project?

Last March I was over in the Dam for some meetings at our Converse European HQ and I met up with the Patta crew to show them some new kicks coming out. The meeting led to working together and coming up with a unique offering with clothing and a record. Because of our long standing connection to music, LeLe was the perfect addition to the collab. Plus the song “Breakfast” is one of my all time new favorites. Long story short we ended up hanging out that night and partying together, planning out the offering. I knew the night was going well when Gee and Parra and I caught ourselves signing along to the Smiths one song and then again to the next with Biggie. The Patta crew was extremely excited to work with us and to say the least it was a very organic experience.

What’s the general consensus regarding Patta around Converse?

Converse holds Patta in high regards as a key partner in our European market. Not only for their relevance in the Streetwear/Sneaker world but also that they’re mad gang related to a lot of our personal homies.

With the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star, is it a hard model to give out for collaborations, given how special and popular a shoe it is? And I know Gee mentioned something about a special 60′s style Chuck Taylor silhouette being used?

For all special project/First String collabs we use a special version of the Chuck Taylor that is based off of a 60′s model, where the sidewalls are higher and a original license plate from that era is used. This version of the Chuck Taylor gives a point of difference to the classic Chuck Taylor shoe. Going forward we plan to use the 60′s Chuck Taylor for all collabs and our own First String Standards collection.

Any upcoming projects with the Pro Leather?

We have a few things lined up to drop next year but nothing we can talk about yet. This silhouette is a staple in Converse’s long history of basketball shoes and we plan to continue to use it.

Thanks for your time Nathan, any last words?

Look out for our product launch the Patta/LeLe project with colette/Pigalle in Paris and in Berlin at Wood Wood. There will be live performances by LeLe and Ian Ginoza will be representing and holding it down for the the Converse First String crew at both locations.