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Image Keds This Is Big News

Seeker

Seeker

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One of my producers had a model arrive that needed Keds her size so he went to the local JCP to buy a pair and guess what!!

No flared heal and a new sole It looks like we almost have our old keds back.

"CHAMPION 2K CVO BLK CVS", "WF34100"

Here is a sample from a set on the way.
 
Do you have the whole set? Sometimes the angle of the shoes can make them look different. I hoped they changed them, but its hard to tell for sure from that view. If they did get rid of the flared heel, then that's great. I noticed they don't mention the heel as a feature on the keds site. Maybe with all the popularity of Converse and other retro sneakers, they realized updating the look wouldn't really improved sales.
 
Wow!!!!😀 Just saw the new set and they definitely took out the flared heel. Those keds look great. It keeps the traditional look, but the slightly thicker sole gives it a modern look. I wonder why the Keds company is so hush, hush about it. The pics on the site still showed the flared heel. I guessed all the complaints from this site only must have changed their minds. LOL Now that they got the design right, they need to add more colors and patterns, redesign their site, and hire the guys who turned Converse around. They really to advertise to the 15 to 30 year old female demographic. It would help if they tried to get them on Journeys.com a major shoe seller aimed at young women. I'm really excited to see this, but the way they're handling it so far give me doubts about seeing more women wearing keds.
 
I just got a look at the new set. The rear flat tire is gone (yeah!) however, the soles appear to have the same pattern as the flat tire shoe.

As an expert on sneaker soles, I can say that this may be the best of both worlds. The newer sole is nicer (at least for my intended purposes).

Also without such a wide heel, they can use less rubber on the sole. It may only be a fraction of a penny on each shoe, but it adds up when you make millions of shoes.
 
Scotty. It's clear out the old in with the new. It makes sense that they are clearing stock (flared heal) in the fall for the new line spring.

Mule the one difference I see in the sole is the little heal bump. It is much closer to the old style bump. But texture does appear to be the new sole though.
 
I just got back from Mrs. Mule's closet. You are right about the original Keds, they are "high heeled" as compared with the flat tire.

I haven't seen the new shoes, so I don't know where they fit in the scheme of things.

My gut feeling is that without the flare, younger women might be influenced to buy them.

Let's face it. As much as we love out Keds, they are not the greatest sneaker on the planet for practical (athletic) purposes. The only reason I could see for a woman wearing them is when she wants both comfort AND style. The flat tire just didn't have style.
 
Nope, I'm the only one that had to "come out of the closet."
 
The only problem is the flared heel versions are still in circulation so its a crapshoot when you buy them online. Have you seen the new ones in stores? If not, maybe you can ask that producer to buy a few pairs for your models. I really can't wait to see more sets with them. I really like the thicker sole. Its like keds and vans were morphed together.😀
 
Our local RackRoom Shoes has them. Just in time for fall :-( Wouldn't it have made more sense to release the new model in the spring.

But in spring they were all into mules and other styles. I suppose the champ would have gotten lost in the noise level there.
 
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