CONVERSE CELEBRATES THE CREATIVE SPIRIT OF ANDY WARHOL

CONVERSE CELEBRATES THE CREATIVE SPIRIT OF ANDY WARHOL
WITH WINTER 2015 ALL STAR COLLECTION

New Collection Features Iconic Warhol Imagery on Converse All Star Footwear

CONVERSE Inc. announces the Sub-Saharan African debut of the Winter 2015 Converse All Star Andy Warhol Collection in partnership with The Andy Warhol Foundation. Marrying Warhol’s distinct vision with the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, the partnership between two pop culture icons celebrates creative self-expression and pays homage to the visionary artist. The new collection features bold Warhol imagery across an array of expressive Converse tees and footwear for men and women.

Hailed as the preeminent artist of the 20th century, Warhol was an iconic visionary whose legacy continues to inspire rebels and artists everywhere. He creatively merged pop culture, film, music, screen printing and performance, opening the door for millions of artists and performers. Since 1987, Warhol’s vision and creativity lives on through The Andy Warhol Foundation, who fosters innovative artistic expression by supporting work that is challenging and experimental in nature.

“With this collection, we aim to celebrate and foster the innovative artistic expression that’s intrinsic to both Converse and Andy Warhol,” said Damion Silver, Converse All Star Design Director. “Andy Warhol famously created art inspired by American pop culture icons, and was a pioneer in utilizing the Chuck Taylor All Star as a blank canvas for his work. From this shared creative history grew our collaboration with Warhol.”

“The Foundation is delighted to celebrate the launch of the Converse Andy Warhol Collection,” said Michael Hermann of The Andy Warhol Foundation. “This unique collaboration honours the artist’s enduring legacy which inspires us to ignore convention and proudly be whatever we want to be.”

The Winter 2015 Converse Chuck Taylor Andy Warhol Sneaker Collection will be available for purchase starting 1 April, exclusively through selected Sportscene stores. Prices ranging from R979.95 – R1049.95

CONVERSE ALL STAR ANDY WARHOL FOOTWEAR COLLECTION

Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Andy Warhol Collection

Description: Taking one of Warhol’s most iconic and recognizable prints, the Campbell’s Soup can, Converse reinterprets and repurposes this screen print. On the high top sneaker a singular soup can print is utilized in bold primary colours, while the low top stacks the Campbell’s Soup cans on top of one another to create a layered pattern that adds depth and dimension, a common technique used by Warhol.

Suggested Retail Price: R979.95 – R1049.95

Chuck Taylor All Star ’70 Andy Warhol Collection

Description: For a second take on Warhol’s work, the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star silhouette features a design of a Campbell’s Soup cans in classic colours. Adding a playful element to the sneaker, the inner lining hosts a step and repeat print that mirrors the distinct pattern Warhol used in his signature Campbell’s Soup works.

Suggested Retail Price: R1049.95

About Converse

Converse Inc., based in N. Andover, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including lifestyle men’s, women’s and children’s footwear, apparel and accessories. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 87 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit Converse on the web at media.converse.com.

About The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.

As the preeminent American artist of the 20th Century, Andy Warhol challenged the world to see art differently. Since its founding in 1987 in accordance with Andy Warhol’s will, The Andy Warhol Foundation has established itself as among the leading funders of contemporary art in the United States having distributed nearly $250,000,000 in grants supporting the creation, presentation and documentation of contemporary visual arts, particularly work that is experimental, under recognized or challenging in nature. The foundation’s ongoing efforts to protect and enhance its founder’s creative legacy ensure that Warhol’s inventive, open-minded spirit will have a profound impact on the visual arts for generations to come. Proceeds the foundation receives from licensing projects such as this contribute to the Foundation’s endowment from which it distributes grants. For more information please visit www.warholfoundation.org.

About Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol (1928-1987) remains one of the most influential visual artists of modern times. With a background as a highly successful commercial artist, Warhol reinvented himself as a famous Pop Artist. Warhol went from creating images for advertising and media as an illustrator to using advertising and media images to make his fine art. He quickly became renowned as one of the artists who defined the Pop Art movement, a generation of artists who turned to the worlds of mass commercial production, advertising, and popular culture for the raw materials and inspiration for their work. Incredibly prolific in various endeavours, Warhol is recognized as one of the most influential avant garde filmmakers of his generation, founded Interview Magazine in 1969, produced and managed The Velvet Underground, authored numerous books, was an avid photographer, directed music videos and even hosted his own talk-show on MTV, Andy Warhol died unexpectedly in February 22, 1987 firmly established as one of the most important artists of the 20th century, artist and international celebrity.

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