Converse “Black Fives” Pro Leather
A couple of months ago, Converse had this ill press event at an old art studio in the Village. There were three floors of history celebrating the brand’s 100th anniversary of making shoes. I told them, “You gotta make this a permanent exhibition!” I knew heads, even ones not into sneakers, would appreciate it. I definitely was bugging seeing the original leather hi-tops worn by the Harlem Rens in the 40s. What had me open the most though was the re-issue of the Pro Leather. I wasn’t alive in the first half of the century to see the birth of the All-Star in 1917, but I definitely was around for the intro of what affectionately became known as the “Dr. Js”!
The other day I got a nifty wooden lazered box in the mail with the Black Fives Pro Leather enclosed. Not that I wasn’t thankful, but my immediate reaction knowing that these were finally back out the right way (the Pro Leather re-issues from 5 years ago weren’t done right, sorry) was to call Converse and ask if they were coming out with them in white/red. Yes, the exact color that Philadelphia 76er Julius “Dr. J” Erving rocked in all the posters from my childhood, the mean white/red that my man Chris Johnson from apartment #12J in my building killed with his Lee bell bottom jeans, the ones in low cut that I copped in ‘80. The answer was yes from their side. I anxiously await . . .
For info, hit up:
January 24th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Bakar says:
It’s time for the originators to step up and reclaim their spot in the game. One thing: the kicks would be sweeter if Converse put out matching shorts with the old-school piping down the sides. But no nutcrackers please!
January 24th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Russ Mahon says:
I can’t believe you remember the Lee “Elephant Bells”. They were the shit for about 18 months in the late 70′S but I rarely run into a fellow OG who can recall that they were once hot. Then again, the Alzheimer’s thing is probably effecting most cats who were around when they were rockin’ them joints.
January 24th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
haha! no doubt, russ–you showing your age, bro! haha! there was this real slick dude from douglass projects, forget his name, but homeboy would bring his lee dungarees (as we called them) to the tailor and get zippers on the bottom of his pants. then other dudes used to paint the bottom of their bells with acrylic paint on some graf type ****. there were so much individual flavor bustin’ out of every corner. love that time even though i was shorty rockin’ my brothers’ hand-me-downs!
January 24th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Jeremy Ripley says:
This shoe is just straight nice…I’ve been slacking a bit on my Converse Century posts. I’ll need to work on that over these next few weeks.
Also, I think if a shoe company or shoe companies expect to keep this retro-craze alive, this is what needs to happen. Produce the shoes “as they were” exactly replicating materials, meshes, and dyes. Of course, it might be tougher to mass-produce the shoe, but it’d be a true reissue in my mind, instead of just a rushed look-a-like. I really think adi. was on the right track with their adidas Pro Model/Superstar Vintage Line, and Nike did some awesome stuff with that vintage runner stuff. Hopefully Converse and the other companies can recognize and do the same.
P.S.-Let’s get some FastBreaks!
January 25th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Claude says:
Also, you have to appreciate the smell of the box and the leather together … like fine humidor. Actually … hmm. Bob did you take ‘em to play yet?
January 25th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Bobbito Garcia a.k.a. Kool Bob Love says:
haha . . . yeah, claude, the box is no joke with the lazer engraving and all that. i think i’m gonna use it to store my precious baby photos from the ’60s, and maybe my important documents! haha
January 31st, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Feets Malone says:
Alright, granted I wasn’t around when this shoe dropped but I’m here now! And this shoe has no place at retail. Especially not with a 160 & 200 dollar price tag. I respect the game, respect the culture and the foundation layers but this is some real pseudo-Euro, Camper, Sharecropper type boot. This is not a good look and I doubt any of you would buy it. My proof is the fact that it’s been at the House of Hoops for 3 months now and the only time it sells is on Sundays before 2p when the bus full of ogling foreigners steps on to the Harlem streets to take pictures of famed landmarks….
Just my thoughts!
January 31st, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Claude says:
@ Feets Malone:
“3 months …”
This shoe just shipped like one month ago! Unless you’re in Australia then you might a seen it 1-1/2 months ago.
“… pseudo-Euro, Camper, Sharecropper type boot.”
Huh? You lost me! Atually, you lost me back at “this has no place at retail.”
No disrespect but …