Converse's "Rubber Patchwork" Pack Flips the Script on the Chuck 70

The saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” applies to the Converse design language, a brand that knows its iconic style and how to keep pumping out classics. Yet, from time to time, the American footwear brand does step outside the box both with its collaborations and mainline products, and this new “Rubber Patchwork” duo is arguably the finest example of this approach.

Taking the Chuck 70 Canvas LTD Hi and Chuck 70 Canvas LTD Ox, the pairs feel familiar at first glance. A black canvas upper with contrasting white stitching and an egret-hued sole unit and toe bumper are as expected, yet the application of these colors and what they take form on contradicts the norm.

As the name suggests, these styles have been treated to a patchworked makeover, particularly focused on the rubber sole unit. Where typically a license plate would grace the heel, it now appears on the lateral front-quarter, while vertical and horizontal panels of rubber — complete with the black running stripe — now work the midsole.

One can’t unsee the likeliness of Rick Owens’ DRKSHDW collaboration from November 2021, which also saw the addition of patchworked rubber elements working the heel and contrasting panels on the lateral front-quarter. In a similar vein, Converse’s “Rubber Patchwork” duo is equally luxurious, with the high-top sporting a leather Converse roundel on the medial collar and both coming complete with an extra layer of toe rubber alongside a traditional brown rubber outsole.

The Converse “Rubber Patchwork” pack can be seen above and bought from retailers such as Sivasdescalzo now.

In other news, adidas has added Climacool tech to the UltraBOOST.