By Joy Agoylo
Converse is bringing two very different energies to its latest lineup. aespa’s Karina is the face of the brand’s newest global chapter, while Matt Champion fronts the campaign for the Chuck Taylor Throwback. Together, they make a case for where Converse is headed next: part fresh, part nostalgic, and very much its own thing.
Karina makes her Converse debut in two new takes on the Chuck franchise: the Chuck 70 X and the Run Star Crush. It’s a fitting introduction for an artist whose style moves easily between K-pop, fashion, and streetwear.
“Both on stage and off, I love breaking the mold and exploring my individuality through style, and Converse is a natural canvas for that,” Karina said. “I’m excited to join the Converse family and inspire others to celebrate their creativity and express themselves boldly.”
The first silhouette, the Chuck 70 X, keeps the familiar high-top shape but gives it a sharper update. Premium materials, dual-star details, a new leather patch, aged finishes, and small functional changes set it apart from the standard Chuck 70.
The “X” points to the idea behind the shoe: the classic is there, but what you do with it is up to you.
The Chuck 70 X arrives in Converse stores on August 28.
Then there’s the Run Star Crush, which takes the Chuck in a much louder direction. Its exaggerated platform sole and sculptural proportions give the shoe a completely different presence, while its lightweight construction keeps it from feeling overly bulky. It’s the kind of Converse designed to be noticed.
If Karina represents the brand’s forward-looking side, Matt Champion takes a trip back through the archives.
The rapper, singer, and songwriter stars in the campaign for the Chuck Taylor Throwback, a new silhouette inspired by vintage Chucks and the raw energy of 1990s street style. Instead of making the shoe look perfectly polished, Converse leans into the quirks that gave old-school Chucks their character.
The details do the work: saturated colors, oversized eyelets, fat laces, an intentionally off-center Chuck patch, irregular foxing tape, and a slightly stretched toe bumper. They look like imperfections, but that is precisely the point.
The Throwback isn’t trying to make the past look pristine. It’s bringing its rough edges back into the conversation.
That makes Matt Champion a natural fit for the campaign. His music and personal style have never been particularly interested in staying inside one box, and the Throwback takes the same approach to one of Converse’s most recognizable designs.
Karina and Matt Champion bring very different energy to the campaign. Karina gives the Chuck a sharper, more current feel, while Champion leans into the worn-in attitude of vintage streetwear. It’s a good snapshot of where Converse is right now: keeping the shoes familiar, but giving people new ways to wear them.
The new lineup doesn’t stray too far from what makes Converse recognizable in the first place. The changes are in the details, from the oversized platform of the Run Star Crush to the deliberately imperfect finish of the Chuck Taylor Throwback. For a shoe that has been around for generations, that’s more than enough to keep things interesting.
In the Philippines, Converse is available at Powerplant Mall, Araneta Gateway Mall, select Ayala Malls, SM Malls, and Robinsons Department Stores. The Chuck 70 X will be available starting August 28.
All photos courtesy of Converse
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