The Last Original Sneaker
Source: Red Ball Jets
Converse Chuck Taylors are so iconic other brands that existed during that era have fallen victim to time and have had difficulty in regaining any prominence. PF Flyers was recently purchased, Pro-Keds have bounced around in licensing purgatory, but who is to say those brands would have gained steam and become as readily acceptable when Nike is the brand behind Converse now and Converse has grown to sign a new generation of NBA basketball talent? I mean, I had never heard of Red Ball Jets before, and to be fair, the only Converse I wear are Pro Leathers, but here I am sharing information on the revival of a sneaker that will certainly draw comparisons to Chucks.
But those comparisons would be wrong. The Red Ball Jets are distinctively different and here are a few facts from the brand:
– The iconic footwear, apparel and lifestyle company originated in 1951 and continued through 1971. Now in 2022, 51 years later, the brand has reemerged with a new design and energy.
– Historically, the fifties were a time of celebration and clothing reflected the social change post war. The quintessential All-American fifties-style flourished with the “prep”, “greaser” and “ivy league” labels at the forefront and Red Ball Jets became one of the pioneers of the casual footwear fad and vulcanized rubber sneakers.
– The iconic red ball logo printed on the heels of the sneakers was often a mark of pride by the “cool kids” who were lucky enough to own a pair – as the brand was synonymous with sports and speed. It quickly became a very popular on-court basketball sneaker, it’s slogan simple – “The shoe with speed.”
– In 1971, Uniroyal, the rubber sole manufacturer who owns Keds, bought over the rights of the brand and never produced another pair leaving the brand to become an archival piece for collectors.
– Nate McGinnis decided to give new life to Red Ball Jets again after working in the shoe industry for over 15 years. His goal was to reintroduce the brand by staying true to the classic-retro outer design while also adding in a more contemporary approach, crafting a more durable canvas material upper and a vulcanized rubber sneaker sole. The comfort complaints about other vulcanize rubber sneakers are addressed with performance driven cushioned insoles added alongside with an antimicrobial treatment.
I’ve always seen rivals to Converse as takedown models or even rip-offs. Here is an instance where the revival, in its adherence to the original, allows for an item that definitely feels familiar and similar, but via the contrasting pops of color and logo placements, the shoe is just different enough that the model stands far enough apart that they could undoubtedly become a true rival to the long-time status of Converse. In these pictures what you can’t see are the small details, a leather strip up the heel, a lower cut than the Chucks, the red dot at the heel all immediately allow for differentiation. The heavily ribbed bumper around the front of the shoe is a rugged, distinctive element. Would you give these a shot? Or does the 100-dollar price point move you back towards the Chuck Taylor?
My immediate thought is the shoe is stylish and is different enough that I’ll add a pair to the collection. My second thought is, I’d like to see this modernized as the brand becomes a bit more established. Retro basketball has become so centered around the Air Jordan line, it’s a bit refreshing to see how basketball sneakers were positioned against each other in the past. Check out this classic ad and click through to read and see better pictures of the Red Ball Jets: