Designer Feng Chen Wang is back to shake things up with her newest Converse collaboration

The newest 2-in-1 Chuck 70s are here.

Converse sneakers have forever been a universal favourite and street style staple. The immediately recognisable traditional designs, like the Chuck Taylor All Stars or Chuck 70s, have been continuously reworked over the years with multiple partnerships with prolific designers.

Now, Converse is debuting its latest collaboration with Chinese designer Feng Chen Wang. Following the resounding success of her 2-in-1 Chuck 70 design last year, her take on the classic shoe has been reimagined again, with the newest model dropping on Tuesday October 12.

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The latest CT70 2-in-1 deconstructs the original icon and fuses it back together in a new form, by portraying two sneakers converging into one cohesive whole. In classic Feng Chen Wang style, the disjointed look explores how unique parts of our identity come together to complete the whole.

The shoe’s expressive design builds upon previous Feng Chen Wang x Converse collaborations. The graphic on the leather material gives the illusion of cracked concrete – fitting for the brand’s undisputed reputation as a street style icon. It comes in two colours; all-concrete grey for those who want to keep it simple, or a half grey and half pink contrast. The heel features Feng Chen Wang branding and the lace loops at the back allow for wraparound styling.

This new take on the Chuck 70 honours the iconic shoe while reimagining it – it’s being reborn from the rubble. Converse certainly has a thing for building on its classic designs, constantly releasing new iterations of the styles we know and love.

Chuck 70 sneakers themselves are the modern take on the original Chuck Taylor All Star, designed to be the best basketball shoe out there. The focus soon shifted from support on the court to serving looks day-to-day. If, like me, you’re lacking in athletic ability, you’ll be glad to note that the Chuck 70 is now an everyday, streetwear sneaker.  

The first Feng Chen Wang and Converse 2-in-1 Chuck 70 collaboration utilised the deconstructed approach seen on the current model. Feng first debuted her take on the Chuck 70s during runway shows in Shanghai and New York, as part of her My Half collection. The designs were then produced for everyday wear in two colour combinations and hit stores in October 2020.

This deconstruction technique used in both Converse collaborations is reminiscent of Feng’s previous streetwear collections. The London-based designer is renowned for creating unisex pieces that prioritise functionality and minimalism. Her ability to seamlessly incorporate her past experiences and heritage is a highlight of her work, as seen in previous partnerships with Converse.

The unique designs that featured in Feng’s reworking of the classic shoe in her 2020 Jack Purcell collaboration were inspired by her Chinese heritage. She draws on a traditional Chinese basket weaving technique and uses a similar deconstructed approach for her latest interpretation of the Chuck 70s.

Feng is not the only renowned designer to have collaborated with Converse. One of its most popular partnerships to date, and the shoes that consistently topped my wish list, is the Comme des Garçons Play collaboration. The signature heart design that is unmistakably CDG features on all pairs, adding a playful note to the simple shoe.

Another favourite was the Converse x Virgil Abloh Chuck 70 collaboration. This design incorporated a technique called ghosting – no, not what you’re thinking. The shoe featured a translucent look on the upper and around the rubber (hence the term ghosting) and, of course, Abloh’s signature labelling technique.  

If anyone is ever questioning when the reimagined takes on shoes as simple as Chuck 70s will run out, the answer seems to be no time soon. Converse continues to impress with its partnerships with renowned creatives, and the new Feng Chen Wang collaboration is no exception. Chuck 70s are the perfect canvas for her innovation to take shape in the concrete-inspired leather design. Don’t miss the chance to get your hands on these reborn classics.

The new Feng Chen Wang CT70 2-in-1 is available from Tuesday September 12, you can find it here.