Wikipedia
In 1949, Keds (shoes) established PRO-Keds, an American athletic footwear line, primarily intended for basketball.
The first PRO-Keds product was the classic Royal, a canvas basketball shoe in high and low tops featuring a distinctive red and blue "powerstripe" adjacent to the toe. Over time, new styles were added across the categories of Baseball, Football, Tennis, Track and field. Items utilizing exclusive shock-absorbent support and cushioning techniques were also developed to keep pace with the rapid advancements in footwear technology. The shoe become a common style worn on the court for NCAA and NBA basketball players and rose to fame through this sport.
By the late 1970s, PRO-Keds had become synonymous with some of the biggest names in basketball history and professional sports, and attained cult status as the first real sneaker with style among New York City’s early hip hop community.
Today, PRO-Keds product remains focused around their vault of classic styles utilizing contemporary applications of color and material. With an emphasis on upper-tier distribution and limited-edition collaborations, PRO-Keds continues built a rich legacy through the progressive introductions of authentic sports product.