Converse and Collina Strada Celebrate Debut Collaboration With Brooklyn Launch Party
Converse and Collina Strada marked the debut of their first collaborative collection with a vibrant launch party in Brooklyn, NY, on June 16, transforming Carroll Hall into an immersive playground that reflected the spirit of both brands.
Hosted by i-D Magazine, the evening celebrated the arrival of the Converse x Collina Strada collection, the first release in a newly announced multi-season partnership. Guests stepped into a colorful, sun-drenched environment that blended fashion, creativity, and community, capturing the playful energy synonymous with New York-based designer Hillary Taymour and her Collina Strada label.
The event invited attendees to participate rather than simply observe. A bouncy castle stood at the center of the space, while face-painting stations encouraged guests to embrace the collection’s whimsical aesthetic. A custom Converse lacing station, led by Taymour herself, offered a hands-on opportunity for guests to personalize footwear and engage directly with the creative vision behind the collaboration.
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed vegan hors d’oeuvres and refreshments while music from Las Flaquitas and Kesh provided the soundtrack for the celebration. The gathering attracted a mix of fashion insiders, artists, models, and creatives whose personal style reflected the collection’s emphasis on individuality and self-expression.
Among those in attendance were model Ella Emhoff, model Aariana Rose Philip, designer Martine Ali, DJ Venus X, drag performer CT Hedden, creator Troy Cicotte, influencer Kimberly Drew, model Sara Hiromi, and stylist Ashling Massoumi.
The launch marked a significant moment for both brands. For Converse, the collaboration continues the company’s longstanding history of partnering with influential designers and creatives who reinterpret its iconic silhouettes through unique cultural perspectives. For Collina Strada, the partnership extends the label’s mission of using fashion as a platform for personal expression, sustainability, and social awareness.
At the center of the collection is a reimagining of Converse’s classic Chuck 70 sneaker. Through Collina Strada’s distinctive lens, the familiar silhouette takes on a more expressive form, incorporating unexpected textures, gem embellishments, floral and plaid lace details, and decorative charms designed to function as personal talismans for the wearer.
The collection reflects many of the themes that have defined Taymour’s work over the past decade. Since launching Collina Strada, the designer has built a reputation for challenging conventional fashion norms through experimental presentations, sustainable practices, and a commitment to celebrating individuality. Those ideas were woven throughout the event, where guests were encouraged to create, connect, and embrace personal style without limitations.
The collaboration also aligns with Converse’s ongoing focus on creative communities and self-expression. By partnering with Collina Strada, the brand taps into a fashion label known for blurring the lines between clothing, activism, and artistic experimentation.
i-D Magazine’s involvement as host further reinforced the cultural significance of the partnership. Since its founding in 1980, the publication has championed emerging voices and creative innovation across fashion, art, and culture, making it a fitting platform for a collaboration rooted in originality and individuality.
As the evening came to a close, the atmosphere remained less like a traditional product launch and more like a gathering of a creative community. Guests mingled beneath the summer sky, exploring the installation-like space while celebrating a collection designed to encourage personal storytelling through fashion.
The Converse x Collina Strada collection became available June 16 through Collina Strada, Converse, and select retailers. Prices range from $160 to $200, marking the beginning of what both brands describe as a long-term creative partnership built on imagination, self-expression, and a shared desire to challenge convention.
Photos. by: Han Alexander and Madison Pulaski