By now, sneakers should be included as the sixth official pillar of hip-hop. As sneakers have helped transcend mainstream culture in many ways, so has graffiti, which brings us to the announcement of the Chaz Bojorquez x Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star Hi. Here’s an in-depth overview of how Converse will help celebrate the legendary graffiti artist:
The Friday, June 28 launch of the Converse x Chaz Chuck Taylor All Star marks a first-time collaboration with legendary Los Angeles graffiti artist Chaz Bojorquez. The sneaker carries Bojorquez’s signature skull tag, dubbed “Señor Suerte,” on the tongue of the Converse 1970s Chuck Taylor All Star, a sneaker the artist wore while painting in East L.A. during that era.
Bojorquez’s commitment to free expression is evident in the Converse x Chaz Chuck Taylor All Star sneaker. The interior is lined with his hallmark script, and the insole features a black-and-white image of the artist at work under the cover of night. Aptly, the sneaker comes in a premium midnight black canvas with a suede heel. Hexagonal “nut-and-bolt” eyelets, vintage weave laces, and a screen-print of the artist’s signature in contrasting white showcase Bojorquez’s artistry.
Bojorquez, a graffiti artist of Mexican heritage who grew up in L.A., has been working on the streets since the late 1960s. His work draws from Mexican-American “Cholo-style” graffiti of the 1940s as well as the harmony of Asian calligraphy. A pioneering West Coast graffiti artist, Bojorquez’s work is in the permanent collections of The Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art and The Museum of Contemporary Art. He continues to influence younger waves of graffiti and tattoo artists worldwide.
Converse x Chaz Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers will be available for purchase at the Converse San Francisco store, Footpatrol in London and Juice in Hong Kong and Shanghai for a suggested retail price of $100. Bojorquez will celebrate the launch of his shoe with an appearance at the Converse San Francisco store opening on Friday, June 28.
via Nike
