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Concepts and Converse Team Up on a Two-Shoe Collection Celebrating the History of Basketball

Concepts was born in Massachusetts, which is also the birthplace of basketball. To celebrate their shared home, the retailer teamed up with Converse on a two-shoe collection celebrating the sport’s rich history.

Before month’s end, Concepts and Converse will deliver two new iterations of the iconic Chuck 70 and the court-ready All Star BB Evo — collectively known as the “Southern Flame” pack — which will serve as both a nod to the past and a look to the future. The looks, according to Concepts, take design cues from peach baskets, which is the original basketball hoop when James Naismith created the original rules of the game in 1891.

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“We share a vision for showcasing Boston as our home, so this was an opportunity to show the world one of the most unique stories the city has to offer,” Concepts creative director Deon Point said in a statement. “We wanted to ignite a conversation about the history of the sport, so when we explored the significance of peach baskets, it opened a think tank for what we could introduce to the color palette and materials for the sneakers, while staying true to the origins of the game.”

The Concepts x Converse All Star BB Evo performance basketball shoe will be delivered in a mix of its “Shadow Lime” and “Green Oasis” colorways, which serves as a nod to the color of a peach before it ripens, as well as Concepts-branded peach blossom print on the sockliner.

As for the Chuck 70, the shoe features a ripened peach hue on the upper, which includes green laces. The upper sits atop a white sole unit with a peach stripe and heel patch.

“When the creative process begins with, and is tethered to, a strong and meaningful story, it pushes you to think about the design and its details in a different and more unique way,” Converse global design director for footwear and special projects Matt Sleep said in a statement. “[Concepts founder and CEO] Tarek [Hassan] and Deon are able to combine rich storytelling with an amazing sensibility for elevated design execution and this collection is no exception.”

The Concepts x Converse “Southern Flame” pack arrives Jan. 28 via Cncpts.com, Converse.com and at select retailers. The Chuck 70 will retail for $120 and the All Star BB Evo will come with a $140 price tag.

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