Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s debut signature sneaker has thus far maintained monochromatic colorways across all but one of its releases, but an upcoming variant will deviate through a bold print.
The Converse Shai 001 Camo marks the first time SGA’s sneaker has featured a print. It’s also just the second to feature more than one color, following the Christmas edition with a green zipper and branding.
Forest camouflage is used for the majority of the upper, with the exception of its TPU heel stabilizer in forest green. That same color is then used for the rest of the sneaker, while the tongue and heel logos are applied in black.
Gilgeous-Alexander designed the Shai 001 himself in his role as creative director for Converse Basketball, and he’s the first player to get a signature model from the brand since Elton Brand in 2010.
“I’ve been working with top athletes for 20 years in this field, and I’ve never met an athlete that can sketch like Shai,” Steven Keating, global senior creative director of Converse Footwear, told journalists on a video call ahead of the Shai 001’s reveal. “When we first met, I introduced myself and told him that my entire role here is to bring your vision to life. I had no idea what that meant at the moment. I didn’t know what kind of design skills he had.”
Later, at the Black Footwear Forum in September, Converse global sports and influencer marketing director Adrian Stelly added, “You spend so much time with the kid, you start to see he actually has a point of view on product. I’ve worked with a ton of athletes and every athlete doesn’t have a point of view on product. Then you go a step deeper and outside of just having a point of view, the kid actually sketched. He would send me images and pictures of things we should do or he’s thinking about doing, long before we did signature product.”
The Converse Shai 001 Camo will be released on April 3 through Converse’s website and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $130.
Converse Shai 001 “Camo” (pair)
Converse Shai 001 “Camo” (lateral)
