While the term “multi-hyphenate” may now be a hackneyed epithet appropriated by many of our ambiguously employed peers, it feels like the only suitable title for Tyler, the Creator, at this pivotal point in his career.
It’s inarguable that the man is a musical mastermind, producing records that not only top the charts but also challenge the very idea of what can and/or should be considered popular music. Yet, his ability to communicate ideas effectively and cohesively through myriad mediums is what has really set the former Odd Future frontman apart from his contemporaries. Whether it be apparel, visuals, or even fragrances, each installation is threaded together by that signature Tyler tinge we all just can’t get enough of, one by one adding to his rapidly expanding debonair wonderland.
From co-designing a colorful collection for Louis Vuitton this past spring to soundtracking the 2018 big-screen remix of The Grinch to satiating our sweet tooth with Jeni’s Ice Cream, Tyler has received the proverbial green light to explore and create…well… just about whatever the hell he feels like with whoever he feels like.
Even with a list of collaborators that seems to grow with each passing thought, only a shortlisted few, namely Converse, can attest to being there through it all— back when it was still a risky move to team up with the polarizing rap provocateur “responsible” for corrupting the youth of the mid-2010s.
Now, approaching the tenth anniversary of Tyler’s Camp Flog Gnaw music festival, a marquee cultural event where Converse arrives as the “official shoe partner,” we decided to look back at the most memorable moments that culminated in this formidable footwear friendship.
With ties dating back to 2016, coinciding with the public’s awakening to a latent artistic prowess, the soon-to-be cultural force began teasing a partnership with the footwear icon, offering just a quick glimpse of what was to follow—and follow they did. Debuting their first co-creation in 2017 (a reissued version of the classic One Star silhouette) prior to the anticipated release of Tyler’s fifth studio album, Flower Boy, the inaugural crossover between Converse’s time-honored lineup and the unyieldingly vibrant vision of the anarchic auteur almost felt predestined.
Following the paper trail through a few more compelling Tyler eras—all of which would only bolster his resume as one of contemporary culture’s most prolific figures—his union with the historic footwear brand continues to bear unique, pastel-hued fruit. Stretching beyond a couple of one-offs here and there, Converse has empowered Tyler to express his defining language, presenting him with its longstanding catalog to serve as his unsullied canvas. And from that, it seems le FLEUR*’s leading mind has seized his opportunity to go full-on Picasso. I mean, did anyone else catch that potent half-bar quip on the Chromokopia outro (“No, you can’t moonwalk in my Chuck Taylors, Brodie”)? The man is all in.
The “UNO” By GOLF le FLEUR* (2017)
Previewed at the first-ever GOLF le FLEUR* runway show in June 2016, these coveted kicks teased early signs of the scale to which the two entities would take this partnership.
Hitting the shelves—and quickly selling out— in August of 2017, the iconic One Star received a full-on flowery makeover indicative of the gentler, more personal side that Tyler was beginning to reveal to the world. Outfitted with flower embroidery around the One Star logo, co-branding on the off-white sole, and appearing in four original suede colorways, we all bore witness as Converse slowly became Tyler-ified.
Converse x GOLF le FLEUR* Gianno (2019)
Two years after making it official with Converse, Tyler really began to hit his stride, conjuring a brand-new silhouette in the process.
Born at the intersection of fashion and function, the Gianno pulled the best elements from all your favorite shoes and mashed them into one fantastical piece of footwear foresight. Not quite a trail shoe and yet not quite an everyday sneaker either, the unconventional addition was a metaphoric flex from the multi-disciplinary creative, further separating himself from his industry peers.
With a rollout that included a run of adverts and vignettes covered in Tyler’s crafty fingerprints, the Gianno represented Converse’s true faith in the blossoming artist to help carry its brand into the next decade.
The Really Cool Converse Club (2021)
By the turn of the 2020s, this collaborative pairing became commonplace within the popular zeitgeist. And while pumping out imaginative sneaker iterations is what ultimately keeps the people coming back, a little promotional push never hurt business, right?
Taking a seat in the director’s chair, Tyler put together a cheeky sketch depicting the one and only “Really Cool Converse Club,” a cohort of cool cats decked out in the classic kicks. With a cast that includes comedian Tim Meadows, rapper Vince Staples, and a few other familiar faces, this eccentric skit is pure fun, serving as a testament to the comfortable dynamic shared between the brand and its trusted third-party contributor.
Converse x GOLF le FLEUR* Darryl Chuck 70 (2024)
Getting back to basics (or as basic as you can get when it comes to the Grammy award-winning artist), Tyler and Converse’s most recent stunt feels like a culminating moment that blends attributes from past successes and injects them into one place.
The idea is simple: fat laces, 10 le FLEUR* colorways, oh, and don’t forget the dog on the heel. A perfect formula for commercial success—or at least that’s what the bigwigs up at HQ are thinking.
Poking fun at the arid state of collab culture over the last five years and the out-of-touch apathy exhibited by upper-level management, Tyler and Co. remind us that simplicity can still feel creative and authentic. With a polished aesthetic and a clever perspective, this has to be one of the most tasteful cash grabs we’ve ever seen.
Learn more at converse.com.