Converse Taps Alexis Sablone To Create First-Ever Pride Jack Purcell Pro Sneaker
Paying homage to the LGBTQIA+ community.
As part of Converse’s sixth annual Pride collection, the sneaker giant has teamed up with barrier-breaking creative Alexis Sablone to refresh the Jack Purcell Pro silhouette.
Simply named “Pride,” it is the first performance sneaker to honor and champion LGBTQIA+ voices whilst keeping functionality in mind. Sablone, a professional skateboarder who proudly identifies as LGBTQIA+ herself, crafted the kicks to fuse performance with design subtleties, creating a wearable homage to the queer community.
The entire silhouette is emblematic of the LGBTQIA+ community, seeing the white, rubber-backed leather embossed with an all-over Lambda pattern – a nod to the 1970s when LGBTQIA+ individuals used the symbol to signal their queerness. The “More Color, More Pride” flag appears as a woven heel tab, contrasting the white upper, while the tongue sees a Transgender symbol embroidered against a yellow edge glow, serving as a reminder from Sablone that Pride is inclusive of gender identity as much as it is about sexuality. Rounding off the design is the word “Proud” emblazoned across a blue-lined sock liner.
Peep the imagery in the gallery above. Priced at $85 USD, the Converse Alexis Sablone Pride Jack Purcell Pro sneaker will be available from June 4 on Converse’s webstore and at select retailers.
