Style Converse Conversations Portraits by Stephen K. Schuster

Converse is wrapping up its 1HUND(RED) ARTISTS series of sneakers in the next two months, a year-long launch of artist-collaboration sneakers under the Product (RED) umbrella that includes work by everyone from culture heroes Hiroshi Fujiwara and Terrence Koh to music icons Billy Joe Armstrong and Lupe Fiasco.

To drive forward the point that (RED) isn’t a one-off hype machine, but a continuing movement, Converse held its first “Conversations” event, a seated dinner hosted by Converse Sr. Global Director of Visual Arts Scott Patt, musician Lupe Fiasco, and Executive Chef of Aquavit, Marcus Samuelsson, last night at Aquavit in New York City. The dinner brought together 50 cultural movers and shakers, including some of the hype world’s finest, to speak about Africa and what can be done to keep the project alive. Photographer Stephen K. Schuster documented portraits of special guests—read on for images and profiles of Conversations attendees…