Converse has shown off its latest footwear collection, this time featuring UV-activated sneakers. The Nike-owned company has collaborated with Chinatown Market to produce the novel, color-changing shoe, which they have named the “UV Chuck 70” collection.
Converse has collaborated with Chinatown Market to make these UV-activated sneakers
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
These cool sneakers have the classic Chuck Taylor All-Star design: star insignia, the All Star's rubber sole, smooth rounded toe cap, and wrap-around strip.
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
The canvas upper begins as white, but when exposed to direct sunlight, the UV paint morphs into a color-blocked design of blue, orange, fuschia and purple. It's like having two sets of shoes in 1.
You can see the transformation in action in the video below
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
Chinatown Market’s Mike Cherman, who co-created these cool shoes, told Sneaker News that for him, as a customization-crazy person, the Chuck Taylors offer a perfect 'canvas' (pun intended) to work from.
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
“I love white sneakers like this because I can do whatever I want to them and have so much fun with them,” he said. “That truly is the core of why it’s so fun to work with Converse. We have this shoe that you can do anything with. It’s made of cotton canvas, one of the most malleable materials in the game, and it’s great to be able to play with that.”
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
The light reaction feature allows the shoe to interact with the user and the environment it’s in something that Mike thinks is the coolest part about the project.
“It makes the shoe more than just a shoe,” he explained. “It’s a conversation piece, something that’s unique to the wearer. These hues change in their own way, and some colors will last longer, while others will last for a shorter time period. It’s the beauty of the shoes: how unique they are.”
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
“I think the biggest thing in communicating this project is that a lot of the product images show UV light, and a lot of people might not immediately understand what UV-activated means. This modern technology is as simple as the sun. All you need is sunlight for these shoes to change colors.”
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
“That’s what’s so beautiful about it. You don’t need any special tech, and you don’t have to be able to draw. It’s not like we just gave you a box of markers and said: 'now you have to make your own cool shoe.' It’s truly packaged with the punch of its special features. No gimmicks necessary. It changes with you.”
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
Image credits: thechinatownmarket
“You go to a music festival, the shoes are all bright and crazy in the sunlight, and the moment you step inside a tent, they go back to their pastel base and are different. That’s what’s so fun.”
Here's what people had to say about the colorful sneakers
