For the past few years, Tyler, The Creator has been steadily building with Converse. His exploration of the brand’s classics, the One Star and the Chuck 70, have allowed for experiments in color, fit, material and proportion. His latest output, the GOLF le FLEUR* Gianno, pushes the lessons learned to new boundaries. The Gianno is a new concept, engineered from the ground up, and, as should be in a true signature shoe, it is distinctly Tyler, The Creator.
“This was an opportunity to create a build that he could have ownership and creative input to,” says Matt Sleep, Converse’s Footwear Design Director. “We worked to craft a design language for Tyler with nods to Converse DNA and heritage. The intent was to create something that felt contemporary and fresh, but maybe not necessarily something that looked outwardly ‘Converse’ at first sight.”
Synthesizing these considerations and some of Tyler’s starting points — such as influences from outdoor footwear, running and basketball — results in something unconventionally multidimensional. While there are outdoor vibes, it isn’t immediately a hiking shoe. And, while the midsole drafts off the ERX series, the basketball DNA is suppressed even if it comes across more overtly elsewhere.
Equipped with a midfoot shank, the shoe is stable. The tread pattern is rugged and its nod to Converse’s ’90s basketball archive is another surprise crossover element. “The shoe is a combination of style and function,” says Amy Rauner, Senior Footwear Designer at Converse. “The multidirectional non-skid, lugged outsole should work in many different conditions —whether it be biking on BMX trails or hiking in the woods.”
The mix of leather, nylon, and suede gives the upper a rich dimensionality, while the various color choices allow Tyler to investigate both retro and contemporary influences, from current runway culture to the lineage of trail running. The sculpted, fitted upper hosts detailing, such as the mini debossed fleur motif, and reflective eye rows that weave through the design. These details provide an intriguing depth to the sneaker from all angles.
The Converse x GOLF le FLEUR* Gianno launches exclusively at Camp Flog Gnaw, with a global release on converse.com and Golf Wang Stores.
