There’s a tactile exuberance to the Chuck 70 this season—one that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly untamed. Converse’s first-ever collaboration with KENZO, under the direction of Nigo, unfolds like a visual tribute to 80s fashion codes, where boldness met ease and individuality was worn without pretense. With the “Hana Leopard” print at the heart of the capsule, this collection doesn’t just revisit the era—it relives it, through pattern, silhouette, and a considered evolution of form.
The Chuck 70 is a silhouette steeped in cultural lineage—beloved by generations, yet never static. In this new chapter, its canvas upper becomes a surface for KENZO’s archival leopard floral motif: a collage of soft rebellion rendered in tones that recall fading album covers, varsity jackets and student art boards. On foot, the sneakers feel expressive but lived-in, as if they’ve carried their stories for decades. The slightly pinched collar on the high-top and the winged stitch across the uppers are more than design elements—they’re nods to how style was once worn in movement, not in pose.
Visually, there’s a looseness to the collection’s language. The Chuck 70 Hi in “Sweet Corn” carries warmth without brightness, leaning into a faded yellow that hums with the late summer sun. Meanwhile, the Low versions in “Pink Cosmos” and “Cypress” strike a duality between softness and utility. None of these colourways shout. Instead, they settle into a mood—a kind of visual ease that feels inherently modern, despite its retro cues.
Touchpoints from both brands are embedded, not imposed. A screen-printed Chuck Taylor patch echoes the imperfectly perfect marks of vintage sportswear, and the inlay of KENZO’s Boke flower at the outsole feels like a signature whispered rather than stamped. It’s that restraint that defines the collection—every embellishment grounded by function, every flourish tethered to memory.
Even the campaign imagery leans into this perspective. Set against the backdrop of collegiate life, the narrative is familiar: brick pathways, sun-drenched libraries, and the openness of youth. But what lingers isn’t the setting—it’s the sense of quiet freedom, of style that speaks not through performance, but through presence.
This collaboration doesn’t force contrast. Instead, it allows Converse’s utilitarian roots and KENZO’s expressive DNA to find balance. The result is footwear that feels personal, not performative. It’s the Chuck, but not as you knew it. It’s softer, louder, bolder, and calmer—all at once.
The Converse x KENZO collection is available now at kenzo.com, converse.com and select retailers worldwide.
