Vintage Converse Hoodie. Converse has a rich history, with its roots in the production of winterized rubber-soled shoes and boots. However, during World War II, its focus shifted to producing footwear for the military. At the time, it was a leading producer of athletic shoes and held a dominant position in the U.S. market.
In the 1980s, Converse sponsored several influential skaters including Jason Jessee, Rodney Mullen, and Mark Rogowski. Under the "Cons" name, Converse launched its skateboarding program in 2009 with a team of "ambassadors": Kenny Anderson, Anthony Pappalardo, Nick Trapasso, Sammy Baca, Ethan Fowler, Raymond Molinar, and Rune Glifberg.