The Converse Shanghai X-ING concept store began trial operations on Aug 23 on Yuyuan Road in Shanghai's Changning district, becoming the brand's first creative space in China.

The store offers a selection of popular products from Converse's global lineup, along with a Shanghai-exclusive Converse By You customization service.

Highlights include a new colorway of the 1908 Pro Leather, which made its global debut at the store; the Chuck 70 X series, redesigned for Asian foot shapes; the shark-inspired Run Star Crush platform shoes; the premium First String line; the popular Zo & Friends collaboration; and the Collina Strada collaboration series.

The Shanghai-exclusive Converse By You service allows customers to create personalized items inspired by the city. Options include local dialect expressions such as "nong hao", meaning "hello", and "ha dia", a colloquial expression used to praise people or things. Customers can also choose illustrations of iconic landmarks like Yuyuan Road buildings, Shikumen houses, and the Oriental Pearl Tower.

Artists are also on-site at scheduled times to provide embroidery services, allowing customers to add up to eight letters for customization. Customers can also decorate their shoes with beads and personalize their shoelaces.

The space has also opened an exhibition titled Unfinished Gallery, inspired by street culture. Instead of placing the artworks in a fully enclosed exhibition area, Converse has displayed partially completed paintings, unfinished sculptures, and creative tools throughout the space.

Visitors are encouraged to participate in finishing the artworks, turning the exhibition into a dynamic street art experience rather than just watching it.

If you go

Address: No 1175 Yuyuan Road

Opening hours: 10 am to 10 pm

Sources: WeChat accounts of Changning district government and Converse