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Converse Slaps Vintage Suede on Its Underrated ‘90s-Inspired Sneaker

The brand’s cult-classic basketball-turned-skate shoe has never looked better.

Black suede sneaker with white star logo and white laces on an orange background.Converse
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Ethan Brehm

By Ethan Brehm

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Perennially living in the shadow of the Chuck Taylor and Jack Purcell, the Converse One Star is still an iconic sneaker, albeit with a somewhat strange history.

The silhouette debuted in 1974 as a suede basketball shoe, but went dormant for a while before coming back hard in the ’90s thanks in part to pro skaters who gravitated toward its flat sole and low profile. That skating connection gave the shoe a slightly different cultural lineage than the Chuck Taylor’s art-school associations or the Purcell’s court heritage.

Close-up of a black suede sneaker with cream-colored laces and a cream rubber sole featuring star patterns.
Converse debuts a ’90s-style pair of its cult-favorite One Star sneaker.
Converse

Now, Converse is leaning into the One Star’s retro heritage, dropping two colorways that look like they came straight out of the ‘90s.

Two pairs of low-top Converse sneakers, one black and one burgundy, with cream laces and soles, displayed on a carpet.
The shoes come with long-pile suede and a pre-faded midsole.
Converse

Aged to perfection

Leaning into the silhouette’s understated character, the new variants come in black and burgundy uppers. Converse describes the material as aged suede, which gives the sneakers a broken-in quality from the start. This is long-pile suede with a slightly faded look.

Pair of black low-top sneakers with white star logo, cream laces, and cream rubber soles with star pattern.
The front of the midsole also features a star motif found in ’90s-era models.
Converse
Pair of black fuzzy-textured Converse All Star sneakers shown from the back with off-white soles and "ALL STAR" text.
Not as iconic as the Jack Purcell or Chuck Taylor, the One Star nevertheless came out of hibernation in the ’90s when it became popular among skaters.
Converse

Likewise, the midsole tape comes pre-discolored in a creamy white, as though these have been sitting under your bed for years. The laces match the cream-colored midsole. As a nod to the One Star’s ‘90s-era resurgence, the thick tape around the toe features a star motif like the shoes did back in the day.

Aside from the aged aesthetic, these sneakers come with all the One Star hallmarks like the simplified low-top cut and the single star at the midfoot, with contrast stitching that stays true to the archival design.

Close-up of the heel of a burgundy textured Converse All Star sneaker with a cream rubber sole and black stripe.
The black colorway is more classic but some fans might dig the burgundy variant as well.
Converse

These new takes won’t bring the One Star out from cult-favorite status but they’re nevertheless some of the best versions of the silhouette we’ve seen so far.

Person holding a pair of black Converse sneakers with white laces and star logo, wearing red Converse shoes and brown plaid pants.
These are arguably the best-looking One Stars we’ve ever seen.
Converse

Availability and pricing

So far, the One Star Aged Suede is available from Converse Japan, priced at ¥17,600 (~$111). No word yet on US availability, but keep a look out in the coming weeks.

About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

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