NBA All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s First Signature Shoe
- The Converse SHAI 001, co-created with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is a culmination of his desire to redefine performance basketball footwear, both as an athlete and as creative director of Converse Basketball.
- Every detail of the SHAI 001 has been meticulously crafted and curated to create a shoe as versatile as Gilgeous-Alexander himself – from the silhouette’s materials and colors to a locking zipper that allows for multiple styling options.
- Gilgeous-Alexander’s first signature silhouette will debut at NBA All-Star Weekend in the Butter colorway and will be available in fall 2025.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s game is a symphony of contrasts – tough and elegant, powerful and precise. Like its namesake, the new SHAI 001 signature shoe harmonizes comfort, containment, durability and style in a performance silhouette that delivers an exceptional experience on and off the court.
Since becoming creative director of Converse Basketball in 2024, Gilgeous-Alexander has been instrumental in designing every facet of his signature logo and shoe, imbuing the project with his artistic vision and creative sensibility. From the outset, he shared several hand-drawn sketches with the Converse product and design teams that ultimately inspired the final design of the SHAI 001, his first signature shoe.
“We gave Shai creative control over the design of the shoe in a way only Converse can. Then we went to work leveraging the resources of Converse and all the innovation of NIKE, Inc. to proudly deliver the SHAI 001,” says Jared Carver, Converse CEO and President. “Converse invented the first basketball shoe, and we have been there for so many of the sport’s beloved moments over the last hundred years. We are confident the SHAI 001 will help inspire and inform the next wave of basketball footwear and return Converse to its rightful place at the heart of the game.”
The SHAI 001 is engineered to deliver elite-level performance on and off the court, leveraging the full resources and innovation of Converse and NIKE, Inc.
The silhouette showcases Gilgeous-Alexander’s approach to design, blending worlds to create a signature model that’s entirely original and uniquely him. Every detail has been meticulously crafted and curated to create a shoe as versatile as Gilgeous-Alexander himself – from materials and colors to a locking zipper that allows for multiple styling options.
“I poured my heart and soul into the SHAI 001, and I’m proud to share it with the world,” says Gilgeous-Alexander.
“From performance to design, every aspect of this shoe reflects my passion for the game and my commitment to pushing its boundaries. We made the SHAI 001 a versatile shoe for everyone – from the athlete who’s in the gym three times a day to the kids who just want to express themselves on or off the court.”
That expression shines through Gilgeous-Alexander’s personalized design details, beginning with his signature logo, which serves as a symbol of his duality as an athlete and creative, including a nod to his jersey number.
It also extends to the silhouette’s zipper: a bold statement of customization that allows for multiple wear options. The zipper works in tandem with an inner bootie, webbing and ghillie lacing system to provide containment and adjustability that’s equally suited for the hardwood and everyday life.
A puffed upper features a winged shroud that adds dimension and volume to the silhouette, while additional padding in the tongue helps ensure a snug and comfortable fit.
A unibody molded design offers a futuristic vibe, and a forefoot Nike Zoom Air unit provides spring with every step, ensuring peak court feel and connectivity. Meanwhile, a radial traction pattern is designed to deliver quick cuts, allowing for seamless changes in direction and explosive movement on the court.
The silhouette will debut at NBA All-Star Weekend in the Butter colorway and will be available in a limited global release at select retailers in fall 2025.
Follow @Converse, @ConverseHoops and @Shai for more information – and keep your eyes locked on Gilgeous-Alexander’s feet as the NBA season continues.
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NIKE, Inc. is a team comprised of the Nike, Jordan and Converse brands driven by a shared purpose to leave an enduring impact.
NIKE, Inc., based near Beaverton, Ore., is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly owned NIKE, Inc. subsidiaries include Converse, Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes surf and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel accessories.
All images courtesy of NIKE.
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Tags: advertising, apparel, athletes, athletic, athleticwear, basketball, Butter, clothing, colorway, Converse, Converse Basketball, dynamic footwear, footwear, NBA, NIKE, power of sport, SHAI 001, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, signature collection, sports, sports and fashion, sports fashion, sportswear, Top
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