Alpha Model 1890s classic

Introducing

COLCHESTER
ALPHA

Re-created in precise detail, a replica of the original 1892 footwear specially designed for the game of basketball.

The distinctive “turkey feather” sole pattern underscores the Colchester shoe’s unique design.

The Sneaker Born in 1892
Colchester Created
Basketball’s First.

The Colchester Basketball Shoe, circa 1892

The origins of the basketball shoe have long been shrouded in controversy. Many self-proclaimed experts point to the Converse line, introduced in 1917, as the first footwear developed specifically for the sport. However, the historical reality is that the first basketball shoe was developed contemporaneously with, or shortly following, the inception of the game itself. While Converse’s introduction of its basketball shoe nearly a quarter century subsequent to the invention of the game is noteworthy, the first basketball shoes—designed by Colchester Rubber Company of Colchester, Connecticut, and developed specifically for the game--were actually produced in the early 1890’s, long before those of other shoe manufacturers.

The Story

In 2004, a faded pair of vintage athletic shoes is discovered in an antique Victorian trunk at an estate sale in southern California. Worn with age but in good condition, the shoes bear the insignia “Colchester Rubber Company,” a firm which ceased operations in 1892. Found more than a century in time and 3000 miles from their place of origin, the old sneakers have a remarkable story to tell.

The long-forgotten sneakers take us on a colorful journey from California back to small-town New England of the 1890’s, to a physical education teacher whose boss has given him 2 weeks to create a new sport which can be played indoors during the harsh winters.

The old sneakers, in size 12—the size which fits the foot of our physical education teacher, James Naismith--then travel to Denver, Colorado, where Naismith studies medicine and instructs his new sport, basketball, at the local YMCA. Naismith later gives the shoes to an associate, who is also promoting the game in the Denver area. He stashes them in a Victorian chest where they are discovered more than 100 years later, at the home of one of his descendents in California.

In 2005, the new Colchester Company is formed and re-creates the world’s first basketball footwear.

Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball at the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. Colchester shoes were manufactured in nearby Colchester, Connecticut.

A physician, ordained minister, teacher, and the inventor of basketball, Dr. James Naismith dedicated much of his life to advancing methods of human physical conditioning. There is no doubt that he would have sought the latest equipment and apparel designs available in his day—to maximize an athlete’s ability to participate in a given sport. In the 1890’s, a specialized rubber sole designed for optimizing grip, pivoting and jumping ability—combined with canvas uppers for flexibility of movement—was at the leading edge of footwear technology. Today, the quintessential sneaker remains an enduring statement of casual style and comfort.

The Birth of a Cultural Icon

In the realm of athletic footwear during the late 1800’s, Mr. George Watkinson of the Colchester Rubber Company was well-known for conceptualizing new styles and designs. An avid proponent of athletics (his company employees even held their own version of the Olympic games), Watkinson was not only constantly seeking new applications for his firm’s products, but was keenly interested in developing practical, functional shoes for individual and team sporting events.

IN THE BEGINNING
WAS THE GAME . .

. . . AND
COLCHESTER WAS
THE SHOE.

Colchester was among the largest vulcanized rubber shoe manufacturers in the world at the time Naismith invented basketball. These shoes were developed in anticipation of the potential footwear demand generated by the basketball phenomenon sweeping the country in the 1890’s. The new Alpha is true to the original Colchester concept

.. . . And An Essential Element of Contemporary Style

Residing little more than fifty miles from each other in 1891, James Naismith and George Watkinson were both visionaries in the fields of athletic gear and sports apparel development. Naismith, working as a physical education instructor at the YMCA Training School (today Springfield College) located in Springfield, Massachusetts, was not only creating a new game, but also involved in designing protective apparel for athletes. While internationally acclaimed for originating the sport of basketball, Naismith was also responsible for inventing the helmet worn in the game of American football.

Meanwhile, Watkinson’s interest in both sports and avenues for marketing footwear products made his firm an excellent source for shoes which would perform effectively on gym floors. Unknowingly, both Watkinson and Naismith were instrumental in creating an essential element of contemporary culture and style.

Own the original shoe made for the game of basketball: Colchester Alpha.