Celebrity Collective Revealed As Keds® Enters Centennial Year

ICONIC SNEAKER BRAND CELEBRATES A CENTURY OF CHAMPIONING FEMALE EMPOWERMENT WITH INTRODUCTION OF COLLECTIVE OF LEADING WOMEN AND NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES

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Keds

Feb 10, 2016, 09:00 ET

LEXINGTON, Mass., Feb. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Keds® is excited to mark its centennial milestone with the announcement of the new Keds® Collective, a curated group of celebrated industry leaders who embody the brand's overarching commitment to powerful women, creativity and self-expression. Embracing the brand's Ladies First Since 1916 platform, the Keds Collective features a diverse group of notable tastemakers including actress Allison Williams, award-winning singer Ciara, and Grammy-nominated breakout musical artist Tori Kelly, as well as other illustrious members from the fashion, music, art, and technology sectors.

"As we celebrate our centennial year, we are thrilled to introduce the world to the new Keds Collective, a group of inspiring women who have made a significant impact in their respective industries," said Chris Lindner, president, Keds®. "The members of the Keds Collective mirror the individuality and everyday triumphs of the women in the world who wear our sneakers—celebrating female empowerment, individuality and following your own path to success."

The Keds Collective unites a premier group of female creative entrepreneurs and multi-faceted talents who possess an authentic love for the brand and alignment with its dedication to women. Allison Williams joins the Collective as creative director and star of the brand's two video shorts, titled "Woman's Touch" and "Uncharted Territory," and Ciara will collaborate on a signature shoe design that will be available at retail. Additional members include co-founder of Wearable Experiments Billie Whitehouse, musician and actress Soko, model Cailin Russo, blogger, actress and style icon Jamie Chung, and K-pop star Krystal Jung.

Keds® was one of the first footwear options to provide women with accessible, fashionable footwear. Over the last 100 years, the brand has been celebrated by, and associated with, powerful and iconic women including Audrey Hepburn, Katherine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O and Yoko Ono. Through the formation of the Keds Collective, the brand continues its legacy of aligning with modern, creative and talented women.

The Spring 2016 ad campaign will feature the famous faces of the Collective modeling new product offerings alongside powerful messages such as, "We'll disarm you with our beauty, brains, and whimsical prints." The Keds Collective will represent a 1 billion strong social audience and mindset of international consumers and collaborators that will be touched through special product collaborations, event activations, and digital campaigns.

For Spring 2016, Keds will introduce several new product innovations including the Keds Custom Studio, which hands over the design reigns to consumers and offers an opportunity to customize a pair of Keds® with exclusive patterns and materials. The studio will also bring to life each member of the Keds Collective's own personal designs for consumers to peruse. New product stories for 2016 will feature fresh takes on the classic Keds Champion, innovative new fabrics and textiles, as well as the announcement of several exciting collaborations and retail partnerships.

ABOUT KEDS®
Founded in 1916, Keds® redefined footwear with the introduction of the Champion sneaker. The iconic design was one of the first options to provide women with accessible, fashionable footwear and ignited a style revolution. Over the past 100 years, Keds® have been worn by iconic women such as Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Jackie O and Yoko Ono. In 2015, Keds® introduced the Ladies First Since 1916 platform in over 80 global markets and launched a powerful new era in its history. 2016 marks the brand's centennial year, celebrating 100 years of fashionable footwear and a passion for female empowerment. Keds® is a division of Wolverine Worldwide, the world's leading maker of casual, work, outdoor, athletic and children's footwear. For more information, please visit Keds.com.

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