A TikToker has claimed Converse stole a design of hers she included in her portfolio when she applied for an internship she never got:
Cecilia Monge, 22, said that the 'National Parks' shoe is 'the same' as a pitch she sent in 2019 and was 'shook' to see it on the company's website.
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Despite saying she wants them to 'recognise what they did and acknowledge it', Converse told BuzzFeed the design was created in-house before receiving her application.
Responding to a TikTok which was captioned 'These Converse x National Parks go hard', Cecilia said: "So I was watching that TikTok and I was shook because two years ago I applied to design internship with Converse.
"I got really excited about it, really wanted the internship so I went above and beyond and kind of made a pitch slide deck within my portfolio that I sent them for the application. And this is what I designed."
Here is Cecilia's design (top) and the Converse trainers (bottom):
She went on to add: "It is essentially the same, didn't get the internship, never heard back from them. And then saw this on the internet."
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She goes on to show off the second design she claims to have sent to Converse, saying: "I think it's also very interesting because the colour palette is exactly the same to the one I sent them.
"Down to the order of the colours and the actual hues of the colours - look at the yellows and the greens, it is the same colour.
"Yeah, I don't think it's a coincidence. And it's kind of just unfortunate when larger companies 'borrow' from smaller designers."
In a statement to BuzzFeed, a spokesperson for Converse said: "The Chuck 70 product design, as well as the Great Outdoors and National Parks concept was conceived before we received an application from the candidate."
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When the publication asked to contact the original creator or team behind the designs to confirm, the company said it wouldn't 'share unsolicited portfolios'.
They added: "Converse's product and design team is made up of nearly 150 individuals across the globe who manage our creative process, season in and season out. As a matter of standard legal policy, we do not share unsolicited portfolios of job applicants across the business."
Reacting to Converse's response, Monge said: "I believe Converse's response is what you would expect.
"The literal millions of people that have been outraged about this whole situation still feel exactly the same after their response and are still calling for justice on all of Converse's social media accounts."
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LADbible has contacted Converse for further comment.
Featured Image Credit: TikTok/@ceci.monge