Haven and Converse Made One of the Coolest Chucks of the Year

As perfect as the Converse Chuck Taylor is, that hasn’t stopped the OG sneaker brand from pushing the sneaker's limits through countless collaborations that remake the classic Chucks in a million different images. While most of those collabs tend to be flashier, there are a few that stand out for their restraint. Or at least, what appears to be restraint at first glance. After a sellout partnership, Canadian outfitters and tastemakers Haven have reunited with Converse for its second team-up, lifting the vaunted Chuck 70 to new heights.Haven’s disciplined approach to design considers its roots in Vancouver, the topography and climes therein, and incorporates that into its garments. Think waterproof shells, lightweight insulation, gussets for range of motion. “We think about the real world. What do you actually need to wear and what do you need to make you comfortable, and how to make your day a little bit better,” Haven cofounder Arthur Chmielewski says. “It could be just 1 per cent better. But those little details over time, they make your life a little bit better, right?” But it’s not just optimizing in the most sterile sense. Chmielewski also goes to great lengths to consider both comfort and craft in every product, employing details like Japanese denim and Loro Piana cashmere into the brand’s range. So when it comes to tackling an established iconic product, how does Haven do it?HAVEN x ConverseChuck 70 SuedeHAVEN x ConverseChuck 70 Suede“If you were to think of a farm-to-table kind of approach, it's like using the best ingredients to make the best food. And we're always thinking about that approach as well from a product standpoint,” Chmielewski says. The sneakers are all about subtle details that sum up to a better experience of something that was already pretty great to begin with. A tonal color palette combines different textures of leather, cashmere suede and hairy suede, giving each pair tactile depth that only becomes more pronounced with wear. The Chuck Taylor’s signature rubber toe cap is also replaced with a natural white leather toe cap, a detail that would go undetected more than five feet away. Practically, Haven’s also added an easy-access side-zip made from high-quality custom YKK Excella zippers as well as an additional rubber sole for longevity.The full magnitude of the sneaker’s design is left for the wearer to experience. Details like reinforced vamps and eyestays, soft leather lining, and an upgraded Ortholite cushioned insole make the shoes more than just pretty to look at.”The crew at Haven are just so good at translating their signature aesthetic across all products they touch,” says Matt Sleep, Design Lead for Converse Energy. “You see the shoes and instantly you know it fits into their aesthetic ecosystem. You just know it’s Haven without needing to see a logo wildly emblazoned anywhere.”For a modern label rooted in the classics, the Chuck Taylor is a fitting project. Because, for Chmielewski, it’s all about making things that will last a long time. From the components to the iconic silhouette, you can bet you’ll see a pair of these knocking around for years to come.