Converse x Pop Trading Company x Miffy JP Pro Hi
A youthful and lighthearted addition to Pop Trading Company and Converse CONS’ continued Jack Purcell collaboration, this latest trio of Converse x Pop Trading Company x Miffy JP Pro Hi sneakers is a release that arrives to complement the Amsterdam-based skatewear label’s second chapter in its adulation to Dick Bruna’s literary character Nijintje, a.k.a Miffy.
Designed with skaters in mind, Converse CONS’ Jack Purcell Pro has become a go-to silhouette for many since its original courtside-debut back in ‘35. Nestled amongst Converse’s symbolic One Star and All Star lineage, the JP Pro offers to skaters what the Chuck Taylor blueprint once offered to the basketball stars of the ‘20s. A refined yet playfully-unique profile, there’s no real surprise as to why Benelux skate-scene pioneers Pop Trading Company opt for the time-honoured Jack Purcell as their signature model of choice, with their initial ‘90s inspired block-tone Jack Purcell Pro Hi and Ox release from 2020 commemorating a milestone in their collaborative relationship. Soon followed their luxe-like interpretation of the Jack Purcell Pro Hi and Ox, as inspired by Patrick Louwerse’s perfume-minded accompaniment, with that same year welcoming a collaborative Pop Trading Company x Converse short-form, ‘50/50’, shot by Sam El Hassani and featuring the likes of Willem van Dijk, Mats Edel and Billy Hoogendijk.
Arriving in tandem to their apparel and accessory exclusive Nijintje collection, Pop Trading Company’s Miffy-character narrative returns full-circle to tell the tale of its superseding chapter. Influenced by the iconic Dutch ‘De Stijl’ art movement, as imposed by the likes of Bart van der Leck, modernist Gerrit Rietveld and the whimsical legacy of much-loved graphic designer Dick Bruna, the Pop Trading Company x Miffy collection centres itself around memorialising childhood memorabilia and mild mannerisms with respect to modern-day skate necessity. Dynamising classic cuts with Bruna’s self-confessed appreciation for fine-lines and block-tones, the Converse x Pop Trading Company x Miffy JP Pro Hi slots right into the collection’s ode to literary imagination and directed everyday narration.
The missing part to the Pop Trading Company x Miffy Suit Jacket and Suit Pant coalition, the cotton-cord Converse x Pop Trading Company x Miffy JP Pro Hi features the same intricate mini-Nijintje embroidery and mid-wale cord construction as its apparel counterparts. Retained odes to courtside tradition are maintained through the skate-specific CX foam sockliner and traction-advanced rubberised outsole, whilst the profile’s tighter-fit and heightened side-wall foxings keep high-stress points well-tuned to ensure increased comfort even through the most demanding of skate styles. A tonal 9-eyelet lacing system secures the winged and custom-illustrated tongue across the natural arch of the foot, whilst a block-tone rubberised toe-cap remains true to the iconic Jack Purcell design and custom ‘Pop Trading Company’ JP ‘Smile’. Mix-match ‘Converse CONS x Pop Trading Company’ insoles complement the sneaker’s playful undertone, with split-profile debossed heel licenses honouring both parties' assignment to this season-friendly release.
For fans of classic Converse colourings and block-tone collegiate stylings, both the black and egret Converse x Pop Trading Company x Miffy JP Pro Hi pair lightweight yet resilient cotton-canvas uppers with leather-lined CX foam sockliner trims for a cushioned day-on-day skate. The same rubberised outsole, extended foxings and Jack Purcell-smile ‘Pop Trading Company’ detailing commemorates the collaborative design, whilst ‘POP’ quadrant-style printed branding appears across the interior-facing side walls to mirror the balloon-wielding Miffy print across the exterior panels. Across the black JP Pro Hi, colour contrasting crisp-white bartack stitchings provide added accentuation to the profile, whilst the white variant hosts a streamlined tonal composure synonymous with pre-school gym shoes and the collection’s sprightly sentiment.
The Converse x Pop Trading Company x Miffy JP Pro His will be available online at Flatspot on Friday 16th April 2021.
Shop all Converse at Flatspot.
Shop all Pop Trading Company at Flatspot.
