Keds (shoes)

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.

Grandma Gatewood, a long-distance hiker and pioneer of ultra-light hiking wore Keds on the 2,168-mile Appalachian Trail in 1955.

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.

1980s

From the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s girls wore Keds with leggings and "slouch socks" and with only slouch socks as part of a cheerleading uniform. 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, or during the first two seasons of 7th Heaven by Lucy Camden played by Beverley Mitchell. 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.

1990s & Early 2000

Keds lost popularity in the mid-to-late 1990s, but sales increased in the early 2000s, perhaps due partly to advertising campaigns featuring Mischa Barton, star of The O.C.. "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.

External links

• Official Site