Shoes squeak on the verdant mats covering hardwood floors. Bright white lines neatly divide the court into twenty-two rectangles, each with its own unique purpose. Rhythmic pops reverberate through the space, lightly echoing into the woven net. Feet shuffle quickly, eyes track, arms swing. The feathered shuttlecock moves back and forth across the court, never hitting the ground, always hitting the racket once. 

Badminton’s intelligent athleticism necessitates fast-paced footwear, capable of supporting and enhancing athletes’ talent, as badminton world champion Jack Purcell found in his design. Converse reintroduced the classic Jack Purcell silhouette, reinventing the original 1935 shoe with modern textiles to maximize durability and 70s and 80s touches to honor every iteration of the style. Featuring a low-top leather upper and Vibram outsole, the most distinctive aspect of the shoe is the smiling inlay of the toe cap, a nod to Purcell’s moniker “The Smiler.” 

As part of First String, Converse’s line dedicated to the reimagination of iconic styles, the Jack Purcell contains a layered history in each pair. In addition to the distinguishing smile, every aspect of the new design harkens back to a previous version. From the 1970s, Converse pulls the JP Script and Wedge logo for the license plate at the heel. Typical to aesthetics of the time, a more pronounced arch produced through stitching in the upper is also present. A shorter toe cap and sunken vent eyelets are constructions originally found in the 1980s incarnation of the Jack Purcell, now included in the current model. 

Available in White and Mountain Green, the new Jack Purcell offers greater width at the front of the foot, a sockliner crafted with CX Foam and Nike Air technology, and a lacekeeper at the tongue to improve comfort and durability. These modern additions allow for an increased time of use, preventing athletes from needing to stop and readjust their shoes. Beveled eyelets, vintage-quality laces, and metal aglets add a refined look. Together, all these features create a stylish silhouette ready for hours on the court.