Converse Pride

With the month of June being Pride month, it is important to take a step back and recognize how companies are doing their part in supporting this celebration. 
Photo from Converse
Being the shoe connoisseur that I am, I decided to highlight one of my favorite classic shoe brands: Converse. The century-old staple shoe brand has led the way in what more and more companies are doing, and has recognized their platform. 
After serving multiple generations with their ageless shoe, they introduced a new line in 2015 called the Pride Collection. This includes 25 different shoe designs with rainbows signifying the pride flag, as well as hats and shirts that say Converse with rainbow letters. 
Photo from Converse
This is only the beginning of the deep-rooted support that they provide to the LGBTQIA+ community. There is an entire landing page on their site dedicated to this aspect of their company, where it outlines the companies they stand with and contribute to year-round. 
These companies include the It Gets Better Project, BAGLY, The Ali Forney Center, and OUT MetroWest. Not only do they make it a priority to donate fiscally, but they invest in their community and have partnered with eight individuals from their LGBTQIA+ community to build their brand and share their stories. 
Photo from Converse
Building a group of allies like this is an incredible way to tangibly impact this community on such a large scale, making clear that their support runs deeper than just a donation. I’m proud to support this company and wear their shoes and hope that their reach can inspire other companies to take similar action.