Converse Taps Naruto Shippuden for the Fieriest of Chucks
Anime and sneakers have walked hand in hand for a very long time, whether it’s Yu-Gi-Oh’s Joey Wheeler sporting a pair of Air Max 95s, or the wealth of real-world collaborations stretching from Reebok to Puma, adidas, and more.
Chalk another one up. This time it comes in the form of the Converse x Naruto Shippuden collection. Exclusive to Japan, the collection features six iterations of the iconic Chuck Taylor in both High and Low versions.
Four pairs of Chuck Taylor Lows feature different bold hues and subtle nods to the fan-favorite anime series, but the real stars of the show are the two pairs of Chuck Taylor Highs, which feature head-turning prints.
The black pair nods to the cloud motif of Itachi, featuring the design in red against a black backdrop, but stealing our attention is the white pair which pays homage to Minato’s Hokage Clock.
Red flames rise up from the clean white sole unit, detailing the off-white canvas upper. It’s just enough decoration to give this shoe big character, without straying into novelty-merch territory.
For those with a keen eye for detail, the shoe holds a few extra secrets. Look to the center of the All-Star logo for a subtle reference to Itachi, or the insoles which boast Naruto and Converse co-branding.
The detailing even extends to the metal dubraes which are engraved with the same motif as the Shinobi headbands. While many anime crossovers go overboard with bold iconography, this collection shows how to integrate two worlds without sacrificing wearability. Just like its predecessor collection did, by the way.
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