Converse

Converse is the largest manufacturer of athletic footwear in the United States, producing approximately 8.4 million pairs of shoes domestically in 1998. The Converse All-Star basketball shoe was the first in the athletic footwear industry, and by the early 1990s, more than hundred million pairs, in more than 56 colors and styles, had been sold in more than 90s countries worldwide. In addition, the company has expanded into varied rubber products, sports apparel, and full lines of athletic shoes for tennis, cross-training, team sports, running, walking and children’s recreation. Converse has morphed under NIKE into a fashionable footwear maker for those off the court, too. The brand is recognized as a top contributor among a handful of NIKE’s brands. To this end, NIKE divested its big-name Cole Haan and Umbro units to focus on growing the NIKE, Jordan, Converse, and Hurley brand names.