Converse – originally incorporated as The Converse Rubber Shoe Company – was founded in 1908 by New Hampshire native Marquis Mills Converse. Best known for the 1923 trainers, Chuck Taylor All-Stars, Converse grew to position itself as an all-American icon throughout the 20th century, endorsed by American universities through the 1950s and integrated into national basketball and baseball uniforms by 1979. As of 2003, Converse operates as a subsidiary of Nike, offering an expansive selection of its hallmark All Star, Chuck 70 and the new streamlined One Star trainers in countless colours and fabrics; all designed to enable the wearer to ‘create a culture of authentic street style, simply by being yourself.’