LL Bean and Converse Japan Take the All Star Outdoors

Heritage Americana label LL Bean is particularly popular over in Japan, with the smart outdoor and collegiate look a staple of street style in the streets of Tokyo since the 1970s. Another American icon that’s also so big in Japan that it has its own local licensed brand is Converse, who have linked up with LL Bean for an outdoors-ready take on the All Star 100, which restores the Chuck Taylor All Star to its 1990s specifications.

One of LL Bean’s signature products is the Duck Boot, characterised by heightened rubberised mudguards and water-resistant materials. That weatherproof ethos is transferred over to the All Star 100 by way of its treated canvas uppers and rubber wrap on the forefoot, an element used on some Chucks in the 1990s. The olive and brown colourway is classic LL Bean, and they leave their mark via custom branded metal eyelets, plus a woven tongue label and co-branded shoebox.

While these rugged Chucks look decidedly old-school, Nike React insoles bring the comfort up-to-date, as does the high-grip tread on the outsole. Like so many banger Converse Japan releases, the LL Bean collaboration will only be releasing in the land of the rising sun, some time in October.