Damien Hirst x Converse (PRODUCT)RED Chuck Taylor Hi

Converse announces the Damien Hirst for Converse (PRODUCT)RED Chuck Taylor All Star shoe. Launching November 5th, 2010 in Europe and the UK and on World AIDS Day—December 1st, 2010 in the US, 100% of the net profit of the shoe is being paid to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Geneva, Switzerland). The Damien Hirst for Converse (PRODUCT)RED Chuck Taylor All Star shoe will retail for $100 USD, available through select UK and US retailers, as well as online via Converse.com.

“All You Need Is Love”, Damien Hirst’s 2007 butterfly print, sold at the Sotheby’s (RED)™ auction in 2008 for $2,420,000.00 in support of The Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Hirst hosted the auction with Bono and it became the most successful contemporary art auction for charity around a single theme ever, generating over $40 million and making a significant financial impact in the fight against AIDS in Africa. A stunning red print with blue butterflies, ‘All You Need Is Love’ will continue to help raise funds and awareness for the fight with the introduction of a gorgeous Converse (PRODUCT)RED Chuck Taylor All Star shoe that incorporates the art in its design.

Damien Hirst was invited by (RED) to collaborate with Converse in the shared goal of using art to change the world with the result being a premium (PRODUCT)RED version of Converse’s most iconic shoe. Using extremely high-tech laser printing techniques on tightly woven canvas, the ’All You Need Is Love’ print is carefully color matched for an immaculate, vivid representation of Hirst’s original piece. The print continues on a white background gracing the footbed and lining of the shoe’s bright white rubber outsole accents. Available in limited quantities, the collaboration uses a special high-top version of the Chuck Taylor All Star shoe originally produced for the US military in the 1960’s that features unique, high rubber rands and high-level construction details.