Originators…
Lemme’ drop some knowledge…
Since 1916 the popularity of Keds has been in a constant state of flux, punctuated by the styles and ideals and icons that come and go with each new generation. Heralded by many as the first actual “sneakers” the brand gained rapid popularity in the 20’s becoming the shoe of choice for tennis players s they graced the court 13 championship matches. Back in the 50’s it was Grandma Gatewood and her epic hike along the 2,168 mile Appalachian Trail (Georgia to Maine). In the 60’s it was Katherine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Jackie O heading the front. And in the 80’s they were staples of the teenage “every-girl” wardrobe (remember the slouch socks?)
But it was back in 1949 that Keds (then U.S. Keds and previously U.S. Rubber Company) revolutionized athletic footwear with the introduction of the Pro-Keds line and their first shoe, the Classic Royal, popularized by “Mr. Basketball” himself, George Mikan. These “hardcore” athletic shoes went on to completely dominate the market, reaching the peak of their popularity in the 70’s when they were adorned by NBA legends such as JoJo White, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Nate Archibald and Pete Maravich. It was thanks to these icons that during this time, the hype had permeated into inner-city culture and cemented Pro-Keds as a must-have item during the early days of hip-hop.
During the 90’s as brands like Nike, Jordan and Reebok rose to prominence through innovative design and revolutionary concepts enhancements that exponentially raised the bar as far as performance (Air Soles and “The Pump”), Pro-Keds took a back seat and began to slowly fade into relative obscurity.
But as of late, with the shifting trends and contemporary emphasis on the “retro” aesthetics, it seems that the world’s first “sneaker” is starting to make a comeback. After almost 100 years of historical prevalence, the shoe that spawned a million look-alikes (Vans, Puma, Adidas – just to name a few) has once again been resurrected to take it’s place at the helm of the fashionable-yet-practical world of footwear. The king as returned, and he’s kickin’ it old school.
More pics after the jump…
