Keds
sneakers are known for their clean, minimalist design. First
introduced by the U.S. Rubber Company in 1916, Keds shoes were the
first to be called "sneakers", a term invented by the
Keds marketing apparatus because the rubber soles of Keds shoes
made them quiet and let people "sneak" around. The first
Keds canvas sneakers quickly became popular because of their
classic, straight-forward style and high-performance quality.
Worn by the Olympic champions of soccer, Keds shoes shot further
to fame in the 1940's and were then known as the Shoe of
Champions. This was quickly followed by the introduction of PRO-Keds,
an offshoot of Keds consisting of a line of performance athletic
sneakers. Worn mostly by basketball players, PRO-Keds sneakers
augmented the popularity of the Keds brand.
Throughout the years, Keds have maintained the popularity of their
Keds canvas sneakers by making periodic updates to their simple,
authentic canvas shoe styles, and also by successful
collaborations with designers and style icons:
In 2004, the Keds Champion shoes and Keds Triumph shoes, two of
the very first sneakers designed by Keds, were "reborn"
amidst much fanfare.
In 2006, Mischa Barton, star of The O.C., became the current
celebrity spokesperson for Keds canvas shoes.
In 2007, a collaboration with fashion designer, Nanette Lepore,
resulted in a line of whimsical Keds skimmers and Keds flats
released for the Spring 2007 Keds collection.
Popular Keds Footwear Categories:
Keds Tennis Shoes, Keds Slip-Ons, Kids Keds, Keds Skimmers, Keds
Sandals, Nanette Lepore Keds, Eleanor Grosch Keds, and Keds
Slip-On Shoes. |