Origin: There was a market in the 1940's for basketball shoes for WWII soldiers because f the demand for indoor training shoes by soldiers. This created the Skoots by Converse. These shoes were almost the same as the more popular Chuck Taylor All-Stars except for the coloring in which it was a lot darker and the sole, which was made of rubber that was more durable and more thick for the soldiers. The production for this shoe started in 1941 in the original factory in Malden, Massachusetts for Converse. It was produced until 1945 because of decreased demand.
Purpose: The shoe was almost identical ro the Chuck Taylor All-Star with its rubber sole, its canvas upper part, and the path fo "ankle protection" but there were a few differences. The shoe was made darker than the All-Star. This was because the shoe was to be used by army men and they would need a shoe that would not have to be cleaned as often. There were also differences with the rubber soles. The rubber was made more thick fore more durability because it was to be used by the soldiers for athletic training. The logo on the path was also different because it was a different shoe from the All-Star. These shoes were mainly made for WWII soldiers because soldiers needed shoes for indoor training and these shoes were eventually military issued as an incentive to enlist. However, these shoes were also sold to the public during this time because of the popularity of the shoe.
Value: The shoe is a perfect expression of this time period because it symbolizes the industrialization that came with WWII. This product was an extra by Converse because of enlistment for WWII. In order to create this shoe, there needed to be more workers. This created more jobs for people and more of an output of product that lead to more business for Converse in WWII and after. This is a prime example of what was happening with other products during this time. There was change from the more popular shoe by Converse, the All-Star, in which it had more durable rubber and darker color. This was because of purposes for soldiers and this made the shoe more popular in that time period. This is the best expression of the time period because it perfectly symbolizes the industrialization of WWII in which products were allocated toward the war effort which created more jobs for people.
Limitations: The product fails to tell us a lot about the time period. It fails to tell us a lot about the hardships or the events of WWII themselves. It fails to tell us about the holocaust, the fierce battles in the Pacific Ocean with Japan, or even the societal changes that were ongoing in the United States due to WWII. this is because this product does not show much change or any hardships within itself to reveal anything about these events. Many voices were stating that the United States should not even enter the Word War. This shoe was promoting the war and it was being sold because of it. However, the United States did enter the war and this shoe was mainstream because it was a product that cashed in on the industrialization that was happening due to the war. Many things that were happening in other areas of the world including Europe and Asia were not represented by this shoe because even when these shoes were made from the American soldiers that fought in these areas, it did not represent what they went through.
Great explanation of the shoe. Your value and limitation fits perfectly with the time period...loved it
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