Converse x Isabel Marant Collection debuts new Chuck 70 Wedge

Converse has united with Isabel Marant for the first time to deliver a collection of new and classic styles fused with her famed fashion label's cool Parisian aesthetic.

The collection brings forwards Isabel Marant's distinct point of view, which famously juxtaposes the high and low with a hallmark injection of spontaneity, independence and natural elegance. Much like Converse, she finds freedom in unpredictability and nonconformity, and that aesthetic is apparent throughout the collection.

Anchored by Isabel Marant's pioneering design and love for the Chuck Taylor franchise, the collection gives voice to rulebreakers everywhere with a new Chuck 70 Wedge silhouette and a fresh take on the Chuck 70. Underpinned by a dose of nostalgia, the collection is the perfect embodiment of two iconic brands coming together to create an expression of "effortless luxury".

That expression, according to the designer, is inherent in her work. "I developed my brand in a very open and genuine way", she says. "I chose to build it step by step to maintain complete freedom in my work. The notion of 'effortless luxury' is quite authentic to me, my designs and the meaning behind them. The word 'luxury' is used in too many ways, and you can get bored of it—it's much more difficult to achieve something simple and effortless, of which you never get bored".

The new Chuck 70 Wedge also marks the latest addition to Converse's elevation styles, offering additional forms for consumers following the recently introduced De Luxe Wedge. Touting a hidden 6.5cm wedge heel attached to the Chuck 70 upper and midsole, the silhouette honours Isabel Marant's stake in fashion and her pioneering work around the sneaker wedge trend of the 2010s.

Rounding out the collection is Isabel Marant's take on the Chuck 70 high- and low-top sneakers, alongside the Chuck 70 Ox. Each silhouette features key Chuck details infused with Isabel Marant's design DNA, offering flourishes such as a frayed cotton and polyester Jacquard upper, the Isabel Marant logo in a raw-edge canvas overlay, multicolour pinstripes and laces, and a matching, translucent outsole.

During Isabel Marant's first discussions with the Converse team, the idea of reimagining a wedge Converse sneaker came naturally to the designer. "When I was a kid, about eight or nine, I used to cut pieces of cork and put them in my sneakers—those shoes were actually a pair of Chuck Taylors", she says. "My intention [many years later] was to have an honest collaboration between the two companies—creating something that is desirable while also keeping a classic element. Something that is not complicated and remains true to the vibe of the original Chuck Taylor".

The Converse x Isabel Marant Collection will launch 11 September, exclusively at the Isabel Marant Turenne Paris pop-up, as well as at Isabel Marant shops and on isabelmarant.com. The collection will then be available the next day on converse.com and at selected Converse locations.

The collaboration also serves to kick off a new chapter of Converse's inline heel offerings with a forthcoming Chuck Taylor All Star Wedge, which includes a classic Chuck design with a 6.5cm hidden heel for added height. The inline silhouette will commercialise 3 October at converse.com and selected global retailers. As part of an ongoing elevation proposition, an inline Chuck 70 Wedge will follow in the coming months.