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Converse debuts the second 1HUND(RED) Artists footwear collection for Fall/Holiday 2008, the brand’s unprecedented year-long global curation project designed to further support Converse’s partnership with (RED). The Converse 1HUND(RED) Artists footwear collections are designed to promote and preserve culture through Converse’s blank canvas including a wide range of inspiring designs that are stylish, thought provoking and unique. In addition, Converse will also unveil the African Canvas collection of Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoes made from canvas sourced in Africa.
The Fall/Holiday 2008 Converse 1HUND(RED) Artists collection spans the globe with representation from Africa, Brazil, Japan, Norway and US with a varied list of artists ranging from Brooklyn based artist Michael Schall to African graphic designer Warwick Kay. Each artist, tasked with the creation of an original design, developed unique shoes that range from playful, graphic cartoon character images to designs that emphasize the importance of the project’s mission. Other notable artists include Colletivo Design (Brazil), Grandpeople (Norway), Ginger Jones (USA), Mister Never (USA), Amy Ruppel (USA), Laura Trowbridge (USA), UPSO (USA) and Yuko Yabuki (USA).
Converse 1HUND(RED) Artists will unveil a total of up to 100 designs over its centennial year with the goal of celebrating culture and supporting Converse (PRODUCT) RED. Each design is unique, detailed and incredibly varied and will have a unique number located inside the shoe that identifies the artist who created the shoe). The numbers will correspond to a page on www.converse.com that will include information about the artist, design inspirations and more details about the project. Shoes in this collection will retail for MSRP $49 – $75 with 10% of the net wholesale price of these shoes going to The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Geneva, Switzerland). These shoes will be available nationwide at specialty retailers, select department stores and online at www.converse.com beginning in June.
Converse will also debut the African Canvas collection of Chuck Taylor All Star shoes produced with canvas made in Africa. These classic looking versions of the iconic Chuck Taylor All Star shoe come in the familiar black and red canvas graced with a tribal “X” pattern on the heel stripe, signifying that they are made of this special canvas. Available in high top and oxford versions and retail for MSRP $49 with 5% of the net wholesale price of these shoes going to the Global Fund. These shoes will be available nationwide at specialty retailers and online at www.converse.com beginning in June.
Additionally, Converse offers the capability to give consumers a platform to express their originality with the MAKE MINE RED option on www.converseone.com with 15% of the net retail sales of these shoes going to the Global Fund. All shoes from 1HUND(RED) Artists and Make Mine Red will include iconic Converse (PRODUCT) RED detailing such as the (CONVERSE) RED logo inscribed on the insole of the shoe and red eyelets symbolically adorning the top of the shoes.
Depending on the products sold 5 - 15% of the net sales of CONVERSE (PRODUCT) RED shoes goes directly to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Geneva, Switzerland). No part of the purchase price is deductible under U.S. law. (RED) was created by Bono (U2, singer and activist) and Bobby Shriver to deliver a sustainable flow of private sector money to the Global Fund to invest in African AIDS programs with an emphasis on the health of women and children.
About Converse
Converse Inc., based in N. Andover, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including premium lifestyle men's and women's footwear and apparel. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 25 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit Converse on the web at www.converse.com.
About (RED)™ and (PRODUCT) RED
(RED)’s primary objective is to engage the private sector in raising awareness and funds for the Global Fund, to help fight AIDS in Africa. Companies whose products take on the (PRODUCT) RED mark contribute a significant percentage of the sales or portion of the profits from that product to the Global Fund to finance AIDS programs in Africa, with an emphasis on the health of women and children. Current partners are: American Express (U.K. only), Apple, Converse, Gap, Emporio Armani, Motorola, Hallmark, Dell and Microsoft. MySpace.com is the first media sponsor in the United Kingdom and MTV Networks is the first media sponsor in the US.