The Converse Jack Purcell: An All-Time Great

The ‘Smile’ of the century.

Originally conceived in 1935 as a badminton sneaker, the Converse Jack Purcell has a smile that’s spanned a century. Known affectionately as ‘Blue Tips’ and ‘Smilies’ (the Purcell features the signature ‘smile’ rubber toe cap), the silhouette was designed by the all-conquering Canadian badminton player, Jack Purcell, in his quest to innovate the archaic footwear worn on court at the time. Now, the sneaker continues to provide an inspiring canvas thunderstruck by collaborations with Japanese visionaries TAKAHIROMIYASHITATheSoloist and NEIGHBORHOOD, rapid-fire rapper A$AP Nast, and Edison Chen’s CLOT.

Join us as we take a look back at how the Converse Jack Purcell managed to become one of the most dominant players on and off the court.

Shop the look

Owning the Court

Jack Purcell’s come up was steep. Born in Ontario, the young Purcell excelled in tennis and golf, before trying his hand at badminton in 1923. It didn’t take long for him to make his mark with the shuttlecock. Winning five consecutive tournaments between 1927 and 1931, Purcell flew across the pond to take on opponents in England, (having already established dominance in Canada). By 1932, Purcell had beaten all of the top players across the globe and, one year later, was named world champion. Despite being repeatedly challenged, Purcell would remain undefeated until retirement in 1945. In 1955, he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Shop the look

A Not-So-Secret Superpower: The Sneakers

Growing frustrated by the lack of innovation in footwear for badminton players, Jack Purcell designed his own shoes in 1935: The PF Flyers. Looking for more support on the court, Purcell constructed a low-top, bleach-white canvas and rubber shoe, even installing a steel shank in the heel for bolstered performance. Originally designed for the B.F Goodrich Company, the PF Flyers featured totally flat soles to ensure the integrity of grass and clay courts, with the signature ‘smile’ rubber toe cap forming a central part of its DNA.

The Jack Purcell PF Flyer was dominant on the court. In 1972, Converse took notice, purchasing the PF Flyer alongside the rights to all of Jack Purcell’s sneakers. Sharing similar properties to the perennial Converse Chuck Taylor, Jack Purcell sneakers emphasise arc support and cushioning, with contemporary updates like OrthoLite technology continuing to modernise the timeless sneaker.

Shop the look

More Relevant Than Ever

The Converse Jack Purcell continues to successfully navigate the nexus between the court and the street. The minimalist sneaker has provided the perfect silhouette for the likes of Japan’s NEIGHBORHOOD, A$AP Nast, and CLOT. It’s also no stranger to the runway, introduced in psychedelic two-tone suede for the Converse SS 2019 range, before next-gen talent Feng Chen Wang put her own signature touch on the silhouette with a complex, layered iteration for London Fashion Week AW 2020. And let’s not forget TAKAHIROMIYASHITATheSoloist’s work on the Purcell, taking cues from rock and roll and Americana with full-length zippers and in-your-face co-branding back in May 2019.

The Jack Purcell will also be a welcome addition to Chinese New Year celebrations, Converse calling it in to commemorate the Year of the Rat. Paying homage to Chinese papercraft, the Converse Purcell ‘CNY’ implemented patchwork on the uppers and bold piping will bring in the new year in style.

A low-key killer, the Converse Jack Purcell is still effortlessly relevant in 2020. Do not expect the silhouette to slow down during the Year of the Rat, as the Purcell continues to evolve as quickly as its namesake’s first step.

Shop the Jack Purcell Converse collection