In another example, Quaker City Mercantile, a boutique agency in Philadelphia, has entrepreneurial operations that include marketing apparel and rum under the Sailor Jerry brand (sailorjerry.com). In August, Quaker City Mercantile (formerly known as Gyro Worldwide) signed a licensing agreement with the Converse division of Nike to sell Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers in four Sailor Jerry designs.

"Quaker City Mercantile (formerly known as Gyro Worldwide) takes a run at revamping the classic sneaker"

There was a day when the Converse All-Star Chuck Taylor model was the only sneaker worn by basketball players -- be it Bill Russell or the third-string scrub on the high school team.

Most of them were white canvas high-tops that featured a discreet blue star on the ankle.

Philadelphia's Quaker City Mercantile, in a licensing deal with Converse, has created four Chuck Taylor designs under Quaker City Mercantile's Sailor Jerry fashion label.