Keds

Keds is a brand of canvas shoe with rubber soles, introduced in 1916 by U.S. Rubber (later known as Uniroyal, then Uniroyal Goodrich, and finally acquired by Michelin), and now owned by the Stride Rite Corporation.

Name

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.

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.

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.

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.

1980s to late 1990's

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 with the title character in 1996's Matilda played by Mara Wilson. They are also worn by The Clique series character, Claire Lyons.

Late 1990s to 2006

Keds lost popularity in the late 1990s, but sales increased in the mid 2000s. "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.

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.

2009

Keds launched Keds Green in March of 2009. The products feature friendly organic cotton uppers for a healtier environment, recycled rubber to help reduce waste, eye-catching colors made from non-toxic inks & dyes that help decrease the harmful impact to our atmosphere, nickel free eyelets, and shoe laces made from 100% recycled PET.

External links

• Official Site
• Keds Sneakers - History of the Keds brand and foowear line
• [1] - Keds Studio
• [2] - Keds Green