Converse sneakers have remained relevant in the fashion industry for over 100 years, despite maintaining their simple yet elegant classic design.
However, one question that keeps bothering Converse customers is what one can do with these shoes when they’re old. So, what can you do with your old pair of Converse shoes? I did extensive research about this, and this is what I discovered!
What to Do With Old Converse In 2024?
Enroll old Converse sneakers in Nike’s Re-USE-A-Shoe program. Converse, Inc. collects old converse shoes in its stores across the globe for recycling. Just drop them in collection locations or send them to Nike’s recycling facilities via mail. Alternatively, take the old Converse shoes to Converse’s Renew Labs for repair or customization if they’re in wearable condition.
To find out more about what you can do with old Converse shoes, how you can revive the old rubber-soled sneakers, and more, keep on scrolling!
Things to Do With Old Converse
Converse shoes are made from high-quality, durable canvas or leather upper and synthetic rubber outsoles that tend to outlive the boots’ lifespan of eight to twelve months.
Since these classic boots are highly durable, there are a host of things that you can do with them if they have seen better days and served you right.
Here are some of the few things you can do with old Converse shoes in case you don’t want to throw your favorite shoes in the garbage:
1. Upcycle Them
If your old Converse boots have been squirreling away in your shoe closet after countless wears, that shouldn’t spell their end.
You can revive the shoes to their former glory with little improvements and DIY upcycling to prolong their lifespan if they’re still in good wearable condition.
Tweaking your old Converse sneakers helps save a few bucks by preventing you from unnecessarily buying brand new products that you don’t need.
Besides, Converse, Inc. has set up Renew Labs globally, dedicated to repairing and customizing well-worn sneakers.
One of the sole mandates of these Renew Labs is to prolong the lifespan of Converse sneakers and prompt clients to pay close attention to the ecological footprint of their footwear.
When you take your old Chucks to the Renew Labs, experts will teach you how to properly care for, clean, and mend your sneakers.
Alternatively, you can opt to upcycle your old Converse boots at home by giving them a dye job using planet-friendly and natural footwear dyes, especially if they’re of a light hue.
You can also upcycle your old shoes by embroidering them to give them a charming fresh look, even if you aren’t a needle and thread expert.
More so, you can spruce up your old Converse sneakers by giving them subtle touch-ups or adding on fun embellishments, such as updating their metal eyelets.
2. Donate Them to Charity or Friends
In case your Converse sneakers are still in good condition, despite being old, it would be ideal if you donated them to the local charity.
Local charities often collect and sell old Converse shoes to the thrift stores, and use the funds earned for charitable courses such as offering food to the homeless.
You can also donate some of your old sneakers to charities that distribute shoes to disaster-stricken families.
Alternatively, in case you have a friend or family member who has the same shoe size as yours, you can opt to gift them these classic yet trendy shoes if they’re in good condition.
Since new Converse sneakers can cost an arm and a leg to purchase, gifting your family a pair of these punk shoes will help them save a few coins.
Additionally, even if your old Converse sneakers are not in perfect condition, buying new sneakers out rightly outweighs the cost of repairing and customizing old sneakers.
Thus, your friend or family can take the old sneakers to the shoe repair stores in their locality or Converse’s Renew Labs to be revived to their former glory.
However, if your old Converse sneakers are beyond repair and you cannot wear them, gifting them to your friend wouldn’t help.
Worn-out Converse shoes are better off in the recycling program.
3. Donate Them to the ReUSE-A-Shoe Program
Nike, Inc. established the ReUSE-A-Shoe program in 1990 to take responsibility for all its products and their effect on the environment.
Consequently, Converse Company adopted the program in 2011 and began collecting old Converse sneakers in its stores worldwide for recycling.
According to Nike, Inc., the giant footwear company has over 300 collection sites in many countries that it runs with the help of Converse and partners such as retailers and colleges.
Nike’s recycling program is served by two recycling plants in Memphis and Meerhout, with each recycling facility using its process of obtaining recyclable products.
For instance, the recycling plant in Memphis, Tennessee, cuts old Converse shoes into fiber upper, foam midsole, and fiber and recycles them.
On the other hand, the recycling plant in Meerhout, Belgium, grinds Converse shoes when whole and then uses mechanical separators to get the distinct recyclable materials.
Nonetheless, both recycling facilities produce Nike Grind Rubber, Nike Grind Fiber, and Nike Grind Foam used in recycled-content products.
Therefore, if your Converse sneakers have seen better days and you don’t intend to wear them again, you can opt to enroll them in the ReUSE-A-Shoe program.
To participate, you need to drop your old Converse shoes at a drop-off location and mail the sneakers to the two recycling facilities run by Nike.
Alternatively, you can donate them to a shoe drive that collects and sends Converse sneakers to Nike’s recycling program.
Conclusion
As you may have noted, there are very many beneficent things that you can do with old Converse sneakers due to their durability and versatility.
For instance, you can upcycle them to increase their lifespan, donate them to charities if they’re in good condition, or enroll them in Nike’s ReUSE-A-Shoe program for recycling.