Pigalle’s Stephane Ashpool and NBA’s Kelly Oubre discuss Converse return on Basketball court

By partnering with Converse, the Phoenix Suns player and the founder of Pigalle are reinventing a story that had been written in fits and starts since the democratization of the Chuck Taylor. A joint interview.

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On one side, an NBA player passionate about fashion; on the other, a designer who loves basketball. The meeting between Kelly Oubre, the promising Phoenix Suns forward, and Stéphane Ashpool, the creator of Pigalle, seemed inevitable. At the crossroads of Fashion Week and Quai 54, it's common to spot NBA players in the French capital unwinding after a long and grueling season on the court. But that wasn't the case for the "League’s ultimate style icon," as TrashTalk calls him, who was ready to walk the runway for the first time during Pigalle’s show on June 23.

Beyond their shared passions, it was Converse that served as the bridge between the two men. In November 2018, Kelly Oubre signed with the brand, marking Converse’s return to basketball courts after its withdrawal in 2012. From the iconic Chuck Taylor to Dwyane Wade, Wilt Chamberlain, and Magic Johnson, Converse’s history has always been deeply intertwined with basketball. Who better than Pigalle and Stéphane Ashpool—who had already designed several sportswear collections for Nike—to assist in this ambitious comeback? Their collaboration has led to a new iteration of the All Star Pro BB, a model designed specifically for basketball, balancing technical performance with style.

The night before the show, we sat down with the new face of Converse basketball and the first designer to collaborate with the multinational brand on a performance basketball shoe to discuss their partnership and the intersection of sports and fashion.

Kelly, you’re about to walk the runway for the first time at the Pigalle show. How do you feel?

Kelly Oubre: I’m super excited. Right now, I don’t feel nervous or anything, though I imagine that right before the show starts, it’ll be like a game—I might feel a bit of pressure. Luckily, Stéphane is making it easy for me mentally because I understand the energy and the message behind his collection. I’m just here to honor his work.

And what exactly is that message?

Stéphane Ashpool: My ideas always go far, so I don’t always expect people to fully understand everything. But to sum it up, the concept of the show is about an Egyptian emperor arriving in a futuristic city, which happens to be Paris.
KO: That’s exactly why I connect with it. In my own way, I’m a foreign emperor coming from the U.S. to discover Paris through this show. It’s something to experience—you’ll feel it during the show.

Kelly, what’s your relationship with fashion?

KO: I’m not necessarily someone who chases every new brand—I let brands catch my attention. I notice a piece when it’s unique. If it’s the same thing I’ve seen over and over, I don’t even care. Fashion, to me, is about intuition: you wake up, you want to look fresh, you admire what looks good on others. It’s something that runs in my veins, which is why I love fashion so much.
SA: I can confirm that everything about Kelly is instinctive. He just has to put something on, and it immediately becomes part of him. You can tell he doesn’t have to force it.
KO: That being said, I’d love to do what Stéphane does one day and wear my own designs.

Both of you are connected to Converse, a brand with a strong basketball heritage. Did that history play a role in your decision to collaborate?

SA: Absolutely. I think it’s even one of the reasons they reached out to me. Originally, I was working on a clothing collection for Nike when I got a call from Converse saying, “We just signed Kelly—why don’t we work on a pair of Converse instead of Nike?” That’s how it started. I went back to Portland for four days to work on the design, then spent a day and a half in Boston to see the first prototype. At first, I wasn’t particularly into it. Then I tried it on and started to like it. But without that basketball DNA, it wouldn’t have felt authentic or meaningful, so I wouldn’t have done it. I’d rather do something small but right than go big without soul.
KO: On my end, I was mainly focused on ensuring the performance aspect wasn’t overlooked. Otherwise, I didn’t really grasp the full creative process at first. It was my first time seeing how a shoe is designed from scratch. It’s wild because every little detail changes the whole look. You use the shoe as a creative canvas, which I had never seen before.

How is Converse’s basketball DNA reflected today? Many people don’t even realize that the Chuck Taylor was originally a basketball shoe.

SA: I think this marks the start of a new chapter for Converse. Bringing Kelly and me into this project makes it more credible. Plus, they gave us the time to do it properly. We’ve written the first pages of this story—let’s see what happens next.
KO: The message behind this shoe is that it’s not just for basketball. When people see it styled in different ways, they won’t even realize it’s a basketball shoe. You don’t have to wear it only on the court—you can easily make it part of your everyday wardrobe. That’s the goal.

How important is your style when you’re on the court?

KO: Super important. I have to look fresh. That’s just how I roll. [laughs] Some people might not care, but for me, looking sharp even on the court is essential.
SA: I see it differently. In Paris, I’m known for showing up to play basketball in the same clothes I wear to work. I might make a small adjustment—like flipping my sweatshirt inside out—but that’s it.
KO: Same! I wear what I already have on, and maybe just take off my T-shirt. But I don’t go out of my way to change.
SA: I saw pictures of Kelly, and I was surprised. He shows up to practice, takes off his shirt, and plays with all his gold chains on. He’s the most stylish basketball player I’ve ever seen.

Stéphane, what is it about basketball that inspires you when designing clothes?

SA: I’m simply passionate about the game. I’ve been coaching kids for over a decade—since I was 17—so it’s in my DNA. One thing basketball has taught me about fashion is that you have to feel comfortable in your clothes. It has also influenced my approach to color combinations. I remember being 7 or 8 years old, obsessed with NBA team logos just to see which colors looked good together. Growing up in Paris, I created my own mix of influences from all that.

Was the goal of this Converse x Pigalle collab to bring more style to the court or to create a basketball shoe that fits into everyday fashion?

KO: Both. We just wanted to make sure the shoe was dope, and that it appealed to everyone. Whether you play basketball, dance, or just love sneakers—this pair is for you. Even women could look at it and think, “I’d rock that.” Since it’s not as bulky as most basketball shoes, it’s more versatile.
SA: The silhouette is definitely more refined. I love wearing it daily. I have my own basketball court in Pigalle, and sometimes when I ride my bike past kids playing, I’ll stop and join them. Having a shoe that transitions from daily wear to sports is a luxury.

Finally, Stéphane, can you tell me about your Craft Studio project and your work with the youth in Pigalle?

SA: Nothing new on that front. I’m like the underground mayor of this neighborhood, so I’ve been taking care of the community for a while now. Craft Studio is my way of giving back—it’s a space where kids can design clothes, record music, train, and collaborate with talented people. It’s where I invest my money. That’s how I give back while involving the community.