Chunky vintage basketball sneakers are continuing their sales battle with the ever-popular adidas Samba OG, and now, they’ve gained strength with the addition of the Converse Weapon and Weapon OX. It’s a silhouette that brings true 1980s styling to the table, and with the endorsement of one of the NBA’s most stylish (and best) players – Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – it’s ready to take on sneakers like the New Balance 550.
Originally launched in 1986, the Converse Weapon was an instant hit thanks to its trademark leather uppers, Star Chevron underlays, egret cupsoles and outsoles, and the signature Y-bar. Legends such as Isaiah Thomas, Kevin McChale, Bernard King and Mark Aguirre all got buckets in these back in the day.
Converse is reviving the Weapon in its original material composition and form, reintroducing both the shoe and its rich heritage in limited quantities. You can get your hands on these now at converse.com.au for AUD$200.
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The Converse Weapon arrives as parent company Nike has been candid about the lacklustre reception to its current sneaker line-up. The brand’s projected sales growth of just one per cent in the year ending May 2024 would mark the company’s worst performance in 25 years, according to Business of Fashion.
More than ever, consumers are looking for authentic collaborations between brands and their endorsees. New Balance, ASICS, and Saucony have all found success and grown their market share accordingly, but Nike has struggled to capitalise on the short-term success it’s found in collabs with the likes of Cortiez.
For Converse, it’s lucky to have an NBA MVP favourite on the roster in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who doubles as one of most stylish athletes on the planet. And with the release of the Converse Weapon and Weapon OX it’s one of the best looks we’ve had at the direction of the brand after its revival as a retro-basketball outfit.
With SGA as the face and key collaborations with fragment design, UNDEFEATED, and Kasina in their backlog, we think Converse is on a path to success.
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