In a time when gender isn’t a deciding factor for what one is supposed to do, wear or say, gender roles (just like gender identity) is pretty much an open-ended question. Wait, scratch that — the idea that gender roles in itself exists is an archaic concept begging to be redefined. Which is why although Converse‘s latest campaign, ‘All The Stories Are True’, encouraging girls to self-establish the meaning of gender might sound a tad bit cheesy right off the bat, its bedrock is exactly that: to serve up a blank canvas for females to define what they themselves believe a girl should be.
The only headlining name they’ve tapped (Converse refers to them as Redefiners) in terms of high-wattage star power is Millie Bobby Brown, for the adolescent’s mature self-awareness and efforts in activism. The following girls they’ve cherrypicked for their achievements — Stephanie Kurlow, the world’s first hijabi ballerina, Qin Yunquan, a Singapore self-defense instructor, Naomi Preizler, a model-turned-musician hailing from Argentina and, Kasia Gola, a Polish tech expert — are hardly your influencing pack in the modern, social media sense of the word. And that’s really the whole point. It’s meant to be inclusive and empowering, not exclusive.
The sneakers tacked onto the campaign hark the age-old penchant for Chuck-wearers to scribble on and personalise their own kicks, except they come themed with words and phrases of empowerment; typography being the ‘Love The Progress’ sneaker pack’s ($75.90-$139.90) key design element. They run across the leather uppers and midsoles of the 13-piece range, and rope the Chuck 70s, Chuck Taylor All Star, One Star and Dainty styles into the mix — topped off with special heart-print outsoles. Browse below.
Converse Love The Progress sneakers:
Shop the collection at Converse stores located at Ngee Ann City, Ion Orchard, Bugis Junction, Vivo City and Changi Airport Terminal 2. Blank postcards will be available at these stores for customers to pen down their definition of a girl, to be part of a larger global activation that’s to be revealed.
