It seems like the number 100 is very popular lately. First it was Pyrex that celebrated their 100th anniversary and now everyone’s favorite running shoes ‘Keds’ is celebrating their 100 year milestone. Congrats!

As a Lindy Hopper (swing dancer) we have a soft spot for our Keds running shoes. They are comfortable, affordable, cute and perfect for the demands of the Lindy Hop dance floor. If you attend any dance, anywhere in the world you will see at least 1 pair of Keds on the dance floor..guaranteed.

keds

For today’s post, I wanted to focus in on the early side of the Keds brand (1900s-1969), with some vintage advertising (Print & TV) I have found. Lets begin….

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Vintage Fashion: ‘Keds’ Turn 100

Brief History of Keds

  • Keds is an American brand of canvas shoe with rubber soles
  • Keds original sneaker were introduced in 1916 by U.S. Rubber or as they like to say, the first ever “feel-like-everyday’s-a-Saturday” shoe. But that was a bit of a mouthful…so instead they called it the Champion (Source).
  • The U.S. Rubber Company was a manufacturer of rubber soles to the footwear manufacturing trade. At the end of WWI they started to manufacture their own line of men’s, women’s and children’s canvas sport shoes (Source).
  • When choosing a name, the initial choice was Peds, from the Latin meaning foot, but that name was already taken.
  • They became known as sneakers because the rubber soles allowed sneaking around silently (Source).
  • In the 1960s, canvas sneakers became far more common and accepted as a part of everyday dress, leading to Keds becoming a ubiquitous brand across the US (Source).
  • Keds was purchased by the Stride Rite Corporation in 1979.
  • 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. Notable Keds wearers during this time included: Jennifer Gray in Dirty Dancing, Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani Thiessen) on “Saved by the Bell and  Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and D.J. (Candace Cameron) on “Full House”.
  • Today’s Keds are still very popular and come in every colour and design imaginable.

Vintage Advertising

1919 Vintage ad for women’s shoes and boots. “There’s comfort in every step”.

1919 Vintage ad for women's Ked shoes and boots. "There's comfort in every step".
Source: Online Baltimore Shoeseum

1920s vintage ad. “An unusual spring trousseau and the shoes that make it interesting”. Keds for sports, Keds for walking and Keds for sitting and walking. You will be the most stylish when you wear them!

1920s vintage ad. "An unusual spring trousseau and the shoes that make it interesting".  Keds for sports, Keds for walking and Keds for sitting and walking.
Source: Online Baltimore Shoeseum

1928 vintage ad for men’s Keds for playing sports. “Footwork the secret of power and speed”.

1928 vintage ad for men's Keds for playing sports. "Footwork the secret of power and speed".

1936 vintage ad featuring more illustrations of men wearing Keds running shoes to play sports in. They help your feet.

1930s vintage ad: 1936 vintage ad featuring more illustrations of men wearing Keds running shoes to play sports in
Source: Dancestore

1937 vintage colour ad as seen in the Saturday Evening Post. The ad illustration is showing all the things men can do when wearing Keds.

1930s vintage ad: 1937 vintage colour ad as seen in the Saturday Evening Post. The ad illustration is showing all the things men can do when wearing Keds.
Source: Dancestore

1930s vintage ad- Kedettes are created for the ladies and there are incredibly stylish.

FURTHER READING: Vintage Fashion-Kedettes

1930s vintage shoe ad for women's Ked's called "kedettes" -1939 ad.

1950s vintage ad for Kedettes featuring a woman in 1950s Fashion (Matching blouse and slim pants) on vacation. “Give your feet a Vacation”.

1950s vintage ad for Kedettes featuring a woman in 1950s Fashion (Matching blouse and slim pants) on vacation. "Give your feet a Vacation".

1947-The Ladies’ Home Journal vintage ad featuring Keds for kids and their outdoor activities.

1947-The Ladies' Home Journal vintage ad featuring Keds for kids and their outdoor activities. -1940s Vintage ad.
Source: Flickr

1953 Vintage ad – US Keds Booster Shoes for boys and girls.

1953 US Keds Booster Shoes Ad

1963 Vintage ad from Seventeen Magazine. Ad illustration features a stylish woman in 1960s fashions (Tweeds for Fall!) wearing Keds running shoes.

1960s Vintage Keds Ad -1963 Vintage ad from Seventeen Magazine. Ad illustration features a stylish woman in 1960s fashions (Tweeds for Fall!) wearing Keds running shoes.
Source: Etsy-paperdollgirls

1965 Vintage ad from Mademoiselle magazine. Keds are fashionable, get “That Keds Look”.

1960s Vintage ad: 1965 Vintage ad from Mademoiselle magazine. Keds are fashionable, get "That Keds Look".
Source: Flickr

Keds Vintage TV Advertising

Ozzie, Harriet, David, Ricky Nelson Keds Commercial. I really really want the purse in this commercial..wow it’s a beauty!

1960s Animated Keds Commercial.


Congrats once again to Keds!

I’m going to leave you with this great Lindy Hop competition video from last year. Can you spot the Keds??

Further Reading:

Would you like to own a pair of Kedettes?

1940s 1950s Summerettes Kedettes canvas shoes lace-up sandals in blue and off-white.

1940s 1950s Summerettes Kedettes Pachucas canvas shoes lace-up sandals swing blue vintage wedge

Source: Etsy

Original Vintage 1940s /1950s Red Canvas Strappy Kedettes Summerettes Wedges Sandals with Rubber Sole.

Original Vintage 1940s 40s 1950s 50s Red Canvas Strappy Kedettes Summerettes Wedges Sandals with Rubber Sole

Source: Etsy

Liz πŸ™‚

14 Comments on Vintage Fashion: ‘Keds’ Turn 100

  1. Fantastic post! While I’ve had very similar style deck shoes over the years (they were an inexpensive mainstay of my early childhood in particular, usually bought at Zellers, Saan, or Fields), I’ve never had a true pair of Keds. They’re on my wishlist for sure though and I can’t help but think that their 100th anniversary year would be the ideal time to finally add a pair to my closet. πŸ™‚

    Big hugs & happy tail end of February wishes,
    β™₯ Jessica

    • They have a 1940’s style in the new section apparently. Might be a good time to grab them πŸ™‚ Not sure if you have a winners or a Marshalls but you can usually get keds on sale there.

      Happy shopping Jessica!
      Liz πŸ™‚

  2. Does Keds still make the original with the white eyelets and classic blue label on the heel, me and my wife Wear those but can’t find them, we like the original classics

    • Does Keds still make the original with the white eyelets and classic blue label on the heel, me and my wife Wear those but can’t find them, we like the original classics

    • That is a very good question, that I’m not sure about. If you have not been able to find them on their website or in stores, then sadly probably not. But you never know, they might decide to bring out a classic line of their past favs. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the kedettes line to make a comeback (but not holding my breath lol!)

      Liz

    • Glad you enjoyed the post. As for your question, I’m not 100% sure. I don’t recall seeing them in my research but that does not mean that the style is not vintage. They could be reflective of the Kedette line which was the women’s version in the mid century.

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Liz

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