Keds (shoes)
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Keds is a brand of canvas shoe with rubber soles, introduced in 1916[1] by U.S. Rubber (later known as Uniroyal, then Uniroyal Goodrich, and finally acquired by Michelin), and now owned by the Stride Rite Corporation.
When choosing a name, the initial choice was Peds, from the Latin meaning foot, but someone else held that trademark. Keds were first mass-marketed as canvas-top "sneakers" in 1917. They became known as "sneakers" because the rubber soles allowed sneaking around silently.[citation needed]
In the 1960s and 1970s, Keds added to its range of casual shoes a line of athletic shoes called Pro-Keds for more serious use, specifically for basketball. Keds have been used by many athletes.
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[edit] 1950s
Grandma Gatewood, a long-distance hiker and pioneer of ultra-light hiking wore Keds while setting a record on the 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail in 1955.[2]
She was 67 years old and she completed the track with only a pair of Keds and basic equipment. She completed the same track years later, at the age of 75.
[edit] 1980s to late 1990s
From the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s girls wore Keds with leggings and "slouch socks", with baby doll dresses with bike shorts with or without lace and sometimes slouch socks, as part of a cheerleading uniform with only slouch socks, or in colder weather with leggings and slouch socks. Seen worn on television with Joanie Cunningham played by Erin Moran from Happy Days, Kelly Kapowski played by Tiffani Thiessen from Saved by the Bell, Stephanie Tanner on Full House played by Jodie Sweetin, during the first two seasons of 7th Heaven by Lucy Camden played by Beverley Mitchell, and off and on by Alicia "Al" Lambert played by Christine Lakin on Step by Step. Seen worn on film by Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing,the title character in 1996's Matilda played by Mara Wilson. They are also worn by The Clique series character, Claire Lyons.
[edit] Late 1990s to 2006
Keds lost popularity in the late 1990s, but sales increased in the mid 2000s[citation needed]. "The Champion" sneaker in the traditional white and black leather and canvas uppers remained essentially unchanged, but became available in other colors and patterns. In 2006 some of the Men's "Keds Triumph" sneakers were reintroduced, though Keds have always been more popular with women than with men.
[edit] 2008
Keds took personalization to the next level in Keds Studio where you can design your own custom Keds by picking colors and adding graphics, photos and text to create your own one of a kind custom canvas shoe.
[edit] 2009
Keds launched Keds Green in March 2009. The shoes feature organic cotton uppers, 20% recycled rubber soles, non-toxic inks and dyes, nickel free eyelets, and shoelaces made from 100% recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
Today Keds are being worn more due to an increase in popularity of canvas sneakers.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.a1-sneakers.com/keds-sneakers.shtml
- ^ Freeling, Elisa (November/December 2002), "When Grandma Gatewood hiked the Appalachian Trail". Sierra. 87 (6):26
[edit] External links
- Official Site - Keds.com
- Keds Studio - Keds Studio
- Keds Green - Keds Green
- Keds Sneakers - History of the Keds brand and foowear line
- The Shoe Keeper's Shoppe - Shop offering custom Keds for women and children.
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