Keds (shoes)

Keds is an American brand of canvas shoe with rubber soles. Keds were introduced in 1916 by U.S. Rubber. The shoe brand was later acquired by Stride Rite Corporation, and is currently owned by Wolverine World Wide.

When choosing a name, the initial choice was Peds, from the Latin meaning foot, but that name was already a trademark. Keds were first mass-marketed as canvas-top "sneakers" in 1960. They became known as sneakers because the rubber soles allowed sneaking around silently.

1960s-1970s

In the 1960s and 1970s, Keds added casual shoes to its product line. In the 1970s a higher quality athletic shoe than the basic Keds called Pro-Keds was added. Most closely associated with basketball, they were intended to compete with the industry standard Converse high-top and inroads made by European imports such as Adidas, Pony, and Nike. The effort was unable to establish Keds as a successful competitor in that marketplace.

1980s to late 1990s

From the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s, Keds were very popular with girls from elementary school age through tween and teens and college age and beyond. They were often worn with slouch socks. Especially with the slouch socks worn over leggings with an oversized sweater, sweatshirt or tee shirt. Moms also wore this same trend as their daughters. Also Keds were worn with white slouch socks over black tights and a skirt or knee length or shorter dress or with the slouch socks and a baby doll dress over bike shorts or knee length leggings. Notable wearers on tv and film include Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiessen) on "Saved by the Bell", Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and D.J. (Candace Cameron) on "Full House", Becca Thatcher (Kellie Martin) on "Life Goes On", and other popular shows. Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) wore white Keds in Dirty Dancing.