When it came to his style, the Beatles' George Harrison was no stranger to trying something new. With a penchant for pinstripe suits, form-fitting denim dungarees and flamboyant ruffle necks, you name it, Harrison gave it whirl.
That being said, one thing that stuck for the late musician was his footwear. When not in black leather Chelsea boots, Harrison was the purveyor of Converse Jack Purcell sneakers, among other Converse designs.
Whether it was their famed 1969 performance on the rooftop of their Apple Corps headquarters or when photographed with his wife, Pattie Boyd, on their way to Nice in the same year, Harrison favoured the shoe's mighty silhouette.
Canadian-born Olympian Jack Purcell was World Badminton Champion in the 1930s and he partnered with the BF Goodrich Company of Canada to create on-court kicks that would help him maintain his positioning. The trainers, which were characterised by the signature “smile” on the vulcanised toe piece, came to fruition in 1935 and featured a moulded non-skid outsole, an extra-thick spongey sole and PF wedge in the heel that works to take strain away from leg muscles.
The BF Goodrich-made lace-ups were a hit off-court, too, most likely because they came with little branding, the aforementioned comfort credentials and could be worn with just about anything from bell-bottoms to straight-cut jeans.
By the 1950s, the Jack Purcell sneaks were the go-to off-duty footwear for the likes of James Dean, Cliff Richey, Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley and, later, Kurt Cobain, as well, of course, as Harrison. By the 1970s, following their mainstream popularity, Converse acquired the trademark rights to the simplistic kicks.
Today it's a similar story. Actors Aziz Ansari and Selena Gomez are Purcell fans and last year rapper and style aficionado A$AP Nast collaborated with Converse on his own range of JPs, which came in a mid-top silhouette and featured flame detailing on the outers.
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