Converse and JW Anderson exist at opposite ends of the fashion spectrum. The space between JW Anderson’s forward-thinking design pushing high fashion’s boundaries, and the iconic, made-for-everyone sneaker creates the driving force behind this collaboration. Together, the brands celebrate the collaboration through the lens of youth culture pioneer, Larry Clark. The creative effort explores the provocative, daring space of opposing ideas and complementary ideals.

The first drop from the highly anticipated Converse x JW Anderson collaboration, “Glitter_Gutter,” hits stores on December 14. The unisex collection intentionally dances across the lines of what’s traditionally considered masculine and feminine through bold colors, glam glitter and elevated details across classic Converse styles.

“Glitter_Gutter stemmed from the idea of breaking iconic silhouettes with something unexpected,” says designer Jonathan Anderson. “Taking the glitter out of context and wearing it with a pair of washed chinos, for example.”

To create this tension, where past and future meet, Anderson brought pop art contrast, vintage-inspired details and unexpected materials – along with his personal love for Converse – to the collection’s three attention-getting silhouettes. Here’s what he had to say about his approach to each icon.

“This is a universal icon item that everybody should have. They’re part of my daily uniform. I will wear them until they fall apart!” – on the Chuck ’70

As a key piece of Anderson’s personal look, it was only fitting that the Chuck ’70 became the core silhouette in Glitter_Gutter. The deliberate nuance and refined features of the Chuck ’70 allowed for designs that are at once feminine and masculine. “I wanted to make sure the shoe felt modern, but underline its timeless features,” added Anderson. 

“It’s another functionality than the Chuck, and it’s very easy to wear.” – on the Thunderbolt

Anderson jumped at the chance to remaster this heritage running sneaker for the streets. The blocked body was the perfect place to playfully experiment with unique color combinations and proportions.